The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to reload in the 2013 NFL Draft by selecting Le’Veon Bell, a running back from Michigan State.

Le’veon Bell

There has been a large question mark over the Steelers running game for quite some time now. Former number one round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall began the season recovering from an injury, and his many replacements could never really find any rhythm. The million fumble game against the Browns also didn’t help.

Bell will look to compete with Jonathan Dwyer, Isaac Redman (whenever he signs his tender), and the newly-signed LaRod Stephens-Howling. 

Running back has been a bit of a thorn in the side of the Steelers. Pittsburgh has been looking for a durable back since the great Jerome Bettis retired. So no pressure, or anything, Le’Veon.

The free agent frenzy began today, and the lucky winners in the Mike Wallace Sweepstakes just so happened to be the Miami Dolphins. Wallace signed a five year deal with $30 million guaranteed. The Dolphins have plenty of room under the salary cap and were willing to pay a lot of money for a dude to run fast and possibly catch the ball. Best of luck to Mike and to whichever Steeler receiver steps up and decides to catch the damn ball next season.

The Steelers, for their part, are not known for making waves in free agency. They continued this legacy today by sticking to re-signing veterans. Linebacker Larry Foote agreed to a multi-year deal with the Steelers. Just a few days ago the Steelers parted ways with James Harrison, so apparently now is not the time to retool half the starting linebacker corp.

Sources are reporting that the Steelers plan on re-signing Plaxico Burress to a one-year deal at the veteran minimum.

But wait, there’s more! The Steelers also re-signed guard Ramon Foster to a three-year deal. The offensive line had plenty of injury issues last season, but hopefully there will be some consistency in the starting line-up next season. Please?

What’s that? You want even more? Well, how about the fact that the Steelers tendered offers to four restricted free agents. Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, Steve McLendon, and Emmanuel Sanders are all expected to sign their tenders. Hopefully with minimal contract drama.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: A member of the Steelers coaching staff has left to go join the Arizona Cardinals.

Former Steelers offensive coordinator and new Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians is carrying on the proud tradition of filling the Cardinals payroll with people with Steelers ties. Special teams coach Amos Jones will be leaving the Steelers to go become the special teams coach for the Arizona Cardinals. I’m not quite sure if that’s a promotion, but the weather is nicer. So Coach Jones will have that working out for him.

Special teams was one of the many thorns in the side of the Steelers this past season, so perhaps a different coaching approach is what the Steelers will need going forward in 2013. That, and perhaps committing less stupid penalties on punts and kick-offs.

In other news, President Art Rooney II was less than impressed with Rashard Mendenhall and the running game this season.

“The season Rashard was not what we would have hope for,” Steelers president Art Rooney II told SteelersDigest writer Bob Labriola. “Obviously, we knew he was coming back from an injury so there were some unknowns there. So, without getting into the real specifics with Rashard, it’s fair to say that we are going to need a better performance out of the running back position if we’re going to be successful.

“Whether it’s Rashard or Jonathan or Isaac (Redman) or somebody else, we have to be better at that position, as well as others, but certainly at that position. In this offseason that’s something we’ve got to look at and decide how we get better and who we get better with.”

Things aren’t looking good for Mendenhall returning to the Steelers. But he should cheer up. If all else fails, he could probably play in Arizona. I think they are contractually obligated to hold roster spots for former Steelers.

Now that the 2012 season is in the books for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s time to look ahead to 2013.  While other teams, including two AFC North foes, are gearing up for the playoffs, the Steelers can only think what might have been.

Quarterbacks

While the Steelers are fortunate to have a franchise quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, it’s time to take take a serious look for a serviceable back-up or two. Both Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch are free agents this offseason.

» Continue reading “Steelers: Looking Ahead To 2013″

December is here, and that means two things: I really should start my Christmas shopping, and I can’t start my Christmas shopping because the Steelers are making their final push for the playoffs.  Coming off a huge upset win in Baltimore against their division rival the Ravens with 3rd string QB Charlie Batch, the team received excellent news when HC Mike Tomlin announced on Thursday that Ben Roethlisberger would resume his role as starting QB when the San Diego Chargers come to Heinz Field for the week 14 matchup.

The 4-8 Chargers season is all but over, having lost 7 of the last 8 games.  Just this week President Dean Spanos was doing damage control when it was reported that he had already decided to fire HC Norv Turner and GM AJ Smith at the season’s end…although he never directly said it wasn’t true.  The Chargers are 0-14 when playing at Heinz Field, and it’s likely the Steelers will make it 0-15.  Then again, we all know the Steelers have a tendency to let weaker teams hang around and struggle to put the game away early. » Continue reading “Steelers Eve: San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers”

You’d have to be living under a rock to be unaware of the countless injuries the Pittsburgh Steelers have sustained this season, and Week 12 was no exception.  Several more players went down in the slugfest vs the Cleveland Browns, resulting in a mind-boggling shift of players on the active roster and practice squad.  Check it out:

1. RT Marcus Gilbert, hoping to return from an ankle injury, suffered a setback and was placed on IR.
2. Rookie T Mike Adams, the 2012 2nd round draft pick who has been filling in for Gilbert, suffered an ankle injury and will reportedly miss “significant time”.
3. Rookie Kelvin Beachum will likely start in place of Adams, whom he relieved during the Browns game.  It will be his first NFL start.
4. 2012 1st round draft pick RG David DeCastro, who sustained a knee injury during preseason, was activated from the “IR with designation to return” list.  It is unclear if he will start, as Ramon Foster has played well in his absence.
5. LG Willie Colon has been sidelined with a swollen knee and may sit this week again…rumor has it that if Colon can’t play, ProBowl center Maurkice Pouncey may slide into the guard position, leaving backup Doug Legursky to fill in at center.
6. Rookie G John Malecki continues to bounce between practice squad and active roster.  This week, he’ll again be on the list of 53.
7. WR Antonio Brown practiced well this week and is expected to make his return against the Ravens.  This is good news indeed.
8. With Brown returning, rookie WR David Gilreath was released to make room on the roster.  The Steelers would likely have signed Gilreath back to the practice squad, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed him off waivers.
9. Other rookies that were released were lost to other teams as well: WR Toney Clemons was signed by the Jaguars and G Ryan Lee was signed by the Saints.
10. To fill out the practice squad, T Joe Long (brother of Dolphins 1st round pick Jake Long), G Justin Cheadle (no relation to the actor Don Cheadle),  and WR Bert Reed (not in any way connected to paper towel dispenser killer K Jeff Reed) were all added.
11. RB Jonathan Dwyer will get the start over Isaac Redman and Rashard Mendenhall, who sits at #3 on the depth chart after fumbling twice on 4 carries against the Browns as part of the turnover marathon.  I guess Dwyer’s fumble was the least offensive?
12. WR Mike Wallace got a mini-demotion and now shares the starting position with Emmanuel Sanders opposite Antonio Brown.  Sanders has performed well in AB’s absence.

1. LaMarr Woodley will sit out with an ankle injury, and Jason Worilds will again start opposite James Harrison.  Both Worilds and Harrison have been performing well recently.
2. QB Ben Roethlisberger if officially out vs the Ravens, and Charlie Batch will again get the start.  Byron Leftwich continues to recover from rib fractures.
3. WR Jerricho Cotchery is also trying to return to the field from his rib injury, but don’t expect him to play this week.  Plaxico Burress will fill his spot.
4. After playing a mere 1.25 games this year, safety Troy Polamalu may finally make his return this week.  The #1-ranked defense has been playing so well the past few weeks, I think a lot of fans have stopped missing him.
5. Safety Ryan Clark has managed to avoid even minor concussions since he started wearing his new, big (unfashionable in his opinion), kevlar reinforced helmet.  Looking good, Ryan.

I don’t know about you, but all this roster movement makes my head spin…I need to rest up for the big game Sunday.  Steelers vs Ravens is always huge, and never more so than this week.  Ravens will essentially clinch the division with a win.  If the Steelers can pull off the upset, who knows?

Cleveland Browns 20 Pittsburgh Steelers 14

This sums up the Steelers’ offensive effort in one simple image.

The Steelers were playing without Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of the offense decided to take the game off as well.

How else can you explain the million fumbleceptions given up by the offense?

With the third-string quarterback starting for the Steelers, the running game was going to be the primary focus. Unfortunately for the Steelers, the entire running back corp came down with a severe case of fumblitis. Rashard Mendenhall kicked things off in the Fumble Sweepstakes, but Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, and Chris Rainey also managed to fumble the ball.

Not to be outdone, Charlie Batch threw three interceptions.

It’s rather telling that the best looking Steelers throw on the afternoon came on a last-ditch lateral by Mike Wallace.

The defensive unit put forth another spectacular game in a wasted effort. Considering the sheer amount of turnovers and the field position advantage the Browns had, this game should not have been this close. Credit the Steelers’ defense for pushing the Browns out of field goal range.

» Continue reading “Steelers Fumble Game Away Against Browns”

Pittsburgh Steelers 24 New York Giants 20

Don’t let the final score fool you. This game should not have been that close.

The Steelers defense continued its dominance despite the absence of Troy Polamalu. Eli Manning was held to 125 yards on the afternoon and was only 10 for 24. Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley brought plenty of pressure and each had a sack for their efforts. Ike Taylor even had an interception.

You read that right. Ike Taylor actually held onto the ball for a pick.

On offense, Ben Roethlisberger had another steady game. He was 21 for 30 for 216 yards and two touchdowns. However, the star of the game had to be Isaac Redman. Redman got the start due to injuries to Rashard Mendenhall and Jonathan Dwyer, and made the most of it, rushing for 147 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown. After a dreadful start this season and numerous injuries each week, the running game has finally found its rhythm. This is the third straight week a Steelers running back has run for over a hundred yards.

The receiving corp stepped up after Antonio Brown left the game due to injury. Jerricho Cotchery made the most of his opportunities with four receptions for 50 yards. Mike Wallace had a beautiful catch and run for a 51 yard touchdown. I don’t know about you, but when Ike Taylor and Mike Wallace both hold onto the ball in the same game it makes me kind of wonder if they Myans were right and the world really is ending.

With all that said, why was this game so close? Well, the refs for one. The Steelers also making bone-headed plays also didn’t help.

Now, I hate blaming the refs on the outcome of the game. Good teams find ways to overcome bad calls. But wow, did the Giants ever receive the benefit of some bad calls. Their first touchdown was set up in part to a long pass interference call on Keenan Lewis. Lewis had good coverage on the play, but apparently “pass interference” apparently means “personal space bubble violation.” Later on in that series the Giants got new life after a goal-line stand when Ryan Clark was flagged for a “blow to to the head after the play”. Upon review of the play, Clark hit Victor Cruz in the shoulder after Taylor deflected the pass, but just before the ball hit the ground. I not only question the ref’s perception of reality, but also his perception of anatomy.

» Continue reading “Steelers Overcome Bad Calls And Botched Plays To Beat The Giants”

Week 9

Pittsburgh Steelers @ New York Giants

Time: 4:25 PM

TV: CBS

Site: MetLife Stadium

 Last Meeting: 10/26/08, L 14-21

Forget Manning/Brady. One of the best quarterback “rivalries” in the NFL is one of the rarest: Manning/Roethlisberger. Both quarterbacks were selected in the first round of the 2004 draft. Both quarterbacks have two Super Bowl rings. However, thanks to the NFL’s scheduling methods, they only manage to face each other once every presidential election cycle.

Coming into the game, Ben Roethlisberger may have more to prove. While Roethlisberger seems to thrive under new O.C. Todd Haley’s offense, that hasn’t necessarily translated into wins. The Steelers lost late leads to the Denver and Oakland, and their only road win has come in Cincinnati.

To say that they will be tested by the defending Super Bowl champs is a bit of an understatement.

» Continue reading “Week 9 Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers @ New York Giants”

Week 8

Washington vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Time: 1:00 PM

TV: FOX

Site: Heinz Field

Last Meeting: 11/03/08, W 23-06

Just a reminder that these are real and actually happening.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be rolling out their brand new throwbacks in today’s game against Washington. There has been much ado about these uniforms, but I have to say, it’s kind of genius. Since Halloween is just around the corner, today’s uniforms can function as Halloween costumes. Are the Steelers bees? Are they Hamburlars? Nobody knows.

Perhaps the throwbacks are all part of a cunning plan to confuse Washington and RGIII.

Either way, the Steelers look to win their second consecutive game and thereby going on their longest winning streak this season. A win would also help the Steelers gain the ground on the Baltimore Ravens, who are off this week.

So no pressure or anything, but a win would be awesome.

» Continue reading “Week 8 Preview: Washington Vs Pittsburgh Steelers”