• The NFL recently decided to change the start time for the second game of  doubleheaders from 4:15 PM to 4:25 PM. Five Steelers games will now be bumped back 10 minutes. These games are:
• September 16 vs. New York Jets
• September 23 @ Oakland Raiders
• November 4 @ New York Giants
• December 2 @ Baltimore Ravens
• December 16 @ Dallas Cowboys

Please adjust your calendars accordingly.

• In roster news, the Steelers cut former Heisman winner Troy Smith. With Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch, and Byron Leftwich on the roster, there’s not a whole lot of room at quarterback. The Steelers may want to start looking for a younger back-up, but I’m pretty sure Charlie Batch doesn’t age.

• Voting is underway to determine who will be on the cover of Madden 2013. Last year Peyton Hillis of the Cleveland Browns won this prestigious/dubious honor and had a bit of an off season to say the least. Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu are duking it out to be the Steelers representative. Personally, I didn’t want to risk another bout of Madden Curse for the Steelers, so I abstained from voting for either player. That’s not to say I didn’t vote for a Raven. Because I’m classy like that.
• In non-Madden news, the Steelers placed a tender on Mike Wallace and five other players. Wallace was placed with a first-round tender, while Doug Legursky, Ramon Foster, Keenan Lewis, Ryan Mundy, and David Johnson were placed with original tender. In the event that Legursky or Foster sign with another team, the Steelers would not receive a draft pick, as those players were undrafted free agents. » Continue reading “Steelers News Blitz: The “Madden Madness” Edition”

Week 17

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

Time: 4:15 PM

TV: CBS

Site: Cleveland Browns Stadium

Last Meeting: 12/08/11, W 14-3

First off, Happy New Year! The Football Gods have been kind enough to flex today’s game from 1:00 to 4:15 to give you all a little more time to recover from the previous night’s activities. Unfortunately for me, the Football Gods also decided to flex the Ravens/Bengals game and actually have Bengals fans show up to that game meaning that I have to leave the comfort of my own home to find the Steelers game somewhere.

The Steelers try to stay sharp as they head into the playoffs. Roethlisberger is expected to start, but will hopefully play just long enough to work off the rust and be productive. I’m hoping that Charlie Batch sees the majority of the snaps.

As of right now, the Steelers are sitting pretty for the number 5 seed in the AFC. They still have a shot at the number 1 or number 2 seed, but will need some help in that department. I’m hoping that the Bengals will prove me wrong and have just one more win in them. Come on guys, I’ve been taunting you all year.

Top 5 Burning Questions

• How many snaps will Roethlisberger get?
• Will Hines Ward get five receptions in this game?
• Will James Harrison be fined for the earthquake in Ohio yesterday?
• How much playing time will Polamalu see?
• Which seed will the Steelers wind up with?

Steelers 27 Rams 0

Anyone ask for a Steeler shutout for Christmas? I’ll take one!

The Steelers looked like they were ready to prove themselves and get back to Steeler football against the St. Louis Rams after their loss on Monday night. With Big Ben out, the pressure was on Batch to keep the turnovers low, and the scoring drives high.

John Clay scored the first touchdown of the game, leading the Steelers 10-0. Mendenhall and Redman followed suit, leading the Steelers to a 27-0 shutout victory over the Rams. Thank Goodness.

To answer those questions about how the Steelers might play today, let’s quickly recap:

1. We haven’t forgotten about Hines Ward, he still gets the ball to carry the team down the field.
2. The Steeler defense put the pressure on Kellen Clemens, with three sacks by Harrison, Hood, and Timmons.
3. While Batch threw incomplete and short passes with an interception at the STL 30, he was able to lead the Steelers up the field for three touchdowns and two field goals.
4. Yes, he was only sacked once. So there.
5. It’s not Steeler football if there isn’t a fumbleception.

Week 16

St. Louis Rams vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Time: 1:00 PM

TV: FOX

Site: Heinz Field

Last Meeting: 12/20/07, W 41-24

St. Louis Rams on Aerys: The Pigskin Arch

The Pittsburgh Steelers play for the second time in five days as they take on the St. Louis Rams. The Steelers will be without Ben Roethlisberger, who will be resting his sprained ankle. Charlie Batch will get the start at quarterback.

Pride is on the line for the Steelers, as they try to rebound from their 20-3 thumping at the hands of the 49ers on national television. They Steelers may no longer control their own playoff destiny, but they also need to stay sharp as they close out the regular season.

James Harrison will be back after serving his one game suspension. Hopefully we don’t have to worry abou the power going out at Heinz. At least it’s a day game.

Top 5 Burning Questions

• Will Hines Ward see any passes come his way?
• Will the defense be able to put the pressure on Kellen Clemens?
• With Charlie Batch at the helm, are we going to see more of a running game?
• Can the offensive line protect Charlie Batch?
• Can we not turn the ball over?

Roethlisberger Ankle Watch 2011 is in full force.

Big Ben missed yet another practice due to the sprained ankle he suffered a week ago. While Roethlisberger was able to play the entire second half of the game, he may miss Monday’s game in San Francisco.

“If this was just a matter of pain, I’d be out there, but it’s being physically unable to do certain things,” Roethlisberger said.

ESPN’s medical analyst Dr. Michael Kaplan feels that Roethlisberger will sit out.

“It’s actually quite a profound sprain,” Kaplan said. “This is a real big deal.”

So, how long would he expect Roethlisberger to sit? “Typically, with all the tricks we have to reduce the down time, it’s a minimum of two weeks,” Kaplan said. “If not, even up to six weeks if not treated aggressively.”

If Roethlisberger does sit out the game, Charlie Batch will get the start at quarterback.

I couldn’t hide my excitement going into the game yesterday.  I could feel it all around me.  The air was cool and crisp and as I look outside my window, Steeler jerseys were everywhere.  It was gameday.  It’s that time of year when no matter what is going on in your life, you had one escape on any given Sunday.  And this was the season opener for our beloved Steelers.  The moment we had all been waiting for since the lockout lifted.  The anticipation was killing fans prior to kickoff against the hated Ravens.  The anthem was sung, the coin was flipped and the ball was kicked.  The only problem was, there was only one team that showed up.

Roethlisberger said it best, Ravens were waiting for this one.  And boy, did they get it.  They ended the Steelers 8 game season-opener winning streak with passion.  When the game started, I wondered why the Steelers were in black.  I was told it was because of A) heat and/or B) the last time they lost to the Steelers they were in purple.  Whatever it was, it started the game off in their favor.  This was also the first time the Raven’s O-line has played together, but you couldn’t tell that.  One would think this was the first time the Steelers had played together.  After Anquan Boldin caught the first TD pass from Flacco, I don’t think many people thought that much of it.  Steelers are known for being a 4th quarter team, I figured they’d close the gap eventually.  I found myself saying that after every touchdown.

The fact that the Ravens actually set records against Steelers is so disturbing to me.  It would’ve been one thing if they had just won, but not the way it went down yesterday.  Ravens recovered a franchise record of 7 turnovers against them and Ray Rice rushed for over 100 yards for the first time in 51 games for the Steelers.  The last one to do that was, Rice.  That stings.  Ravens had 4 sacks, 3 of which were by Terrell Suggs, who was looking to destroy Roethlisberger.  By the 4th quarter, I was wondering why Roethlisberger was still out there.  I thought they would send in Batch to give him a break and try to do some damage control.

Frustration came to a head in the last seconds of the 3rd quarter when a massive fight broke out which it look like it started with Ike Taylor smacking Michael Oher then Oher got up, retaliated and the refs saw it all and still only put the whole thing on Taylor!  On the other side of the pile, I’ve rarely seen Polamalu lose it but he certainly did when Matt Birk pushed Polly from the back and Leach came in from the front.  Then Woodley pushed Birk off of Polly who then got up from under Rice, grabbed his leg and dropped him straight on his back.  YEAH, POLLY!!  Woodley came around from the right for the final push that dropped the ref to his back.  It looked like he was out cold for a minute, then came to.  The camera quickly went to Polamalu’s face after and you could see the look of emotional turmoil going on in his head.  He seemed to look, almost disappointed that he lost control of himself, but hey, he’s only a man and was not going to let the dirty Ravens push him around and not retaliate.  Of course and soon as they were separated, M&T Stadium broke into a crushing “STEELERS SUCK” chant.  They were just happy they got to say that for the first time.  Wonder who Goodell will fine, not on the Ravens, but on the Steelers, of course?

In the 35-7 loss to start out the season, it seems that Tomlin and Co. have their work cut out for them this week.  Tomlin kept his cool on the field, like he always does, but I’d hate to be in that locker room after that train wreck.  They will have to reevaluate the lines.  Everyone has their opinion on who the weak links are, but we will just have to wait until Sunday against the Seahawks to see what changes have been made.  It was a brutal way to start off the season, but Steelers tend to do well as the underdogs and they’ve said it before that they like it that way.  It gives them the edge to be the team they are, not the team they were yesterday.

• Backup quarterback Byron Leftwich had surgery yesterday to repair his broken arm. Leftwich broke his arm in Saturday’s game against the Falcons. Coach Tomlin has not yet decided on Leftwich’s status with the team.
• In more injury news, Maurkice Pouncey sat out practice yesterday due to an ankle injury. Pouncey reinjured his ankle in Saturday’s game against the Falcons.
• In better injury news, receiver Emmanuel Sanders returned to practice yesterday. Sanders has been out with a foot injury since the beginning of training camp. Sanders hopes to be able to play in Thursday’s final preseason game in Carolina, but doesn’t want to push himself too far.

“I learned my lesson the first day of training camp and that is don’t get back out there until my foot is 100 percent,” said Sanders. “That is not based off my mind, but based off the x-rays. Right now the x-rays are starting to look good. I am going to practice full speed, but do it in a smart manner. Hopefully if I show enough I can play against Carolina.”

Preseason Week 2

vs

Time: 8:00 PM

Site: Heinz Field

TV: FOX

Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles visit Heinz Field for a preseason Battle of Pennsylvania. The Steelers hope to improve after last week’s dismal loss to the Washington Redskins. Bragging rights are on the line boys, so let’s see some inspired play!

If you want to find out more about the Philadelphia Eagles, be sure to check out Philly Sports Muse.

As for the Steelers, here are my Top 5 Burning Questions I hope to have answered during this game:

• The Steelers were 2 for 11 on third down last week. Will they be able to convert on third downs?
• Will Troy Polamalu or James Harrison play this week?
• Will the Steelers run the ball more tonight?
• Will the defense actually show up?
• Who will have a bigger impact: Charlie Batch or Dennis Dixon?

 @

Time: 7:30 PM

Site: FedEx Field

TV: KDKA-TV (live)

The wait is over. The Steelers finally return to football. Granted, it’s a rather meaningless preseason game, but it’s football none the less!

This game should answer a few questions:

• Will Hines Ward see any playing time, or will he sit to rest his thumb?
• Will Troy Polamalu play?
• Will any of the regular starters play for more than one series?
• Which quarterback will see more snaps: Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch, or Dennis Dixon?
• How soon will we see Cameron Heyward on the field?