How do you know it’s been a slow off season thus far? Steeler Nation is still facing all kinds of hullabaloo over anonymous comments regarding LaMarr Woodley’s level of fitness. Ryan Clark has had his say on the matter. Antonio Brown has even commented on the matter.

Brown said: “For guys to throw a guy like LaMarr Woodley, a Pro Bowl player, under the bus just shows you the men we had in our locker room. And it’s something that we want to get corrected for 2013 …

“It you are going to speak out about something, be a man and claim it. But don’t go in the newspaper speaking out about our Pro Bowl linebacker and not mentioning your name. Then other guys supporting it … it goes to show you that we wasn’t a team in 2012. So some of the things we got to iron out and we’re looking to get those things corrected.”

And now former Steeler Hines Ward wades into the discussion on the state of the Steelers locker room.

“When you lose so much leadership in the locker room, that’s when things present itself like that,” Ward said. “Guys start finger-pointing, calling out other guys. That is not the Steeler way. We’ve always had a rule: We are a band of brothers. We’ve always collectively kept everything in house. … But there was no finger-pointing and calling each other out. That’s a total disarray, a locker room in disarray.”

Ward has a point, although it may be lost in the sour-grapes overtones of his remarks. Like this year, the Steelers faced age and salary cap issues in the off season. Team leaders like Ward, James Farrior, and Aaron Smith were cut as a result. It seems that losing the long-standing offensive (Ward) and defensive (Farrior) in one off season may have been too much for this team to handle.

» Continue reading “Pittsburgh Steelers News Blitz: The “Yes, We Are Still Talking About The Locker Room” Edition”

Ryan Clark just wants to get along like we used to in middle school. I’m sure he wishes he could bake a cake made out of rainbows and smiles, and we’d all eat it and be happy.

He just has a lot of feelings.

The Steelers had a lot of free time during the playoffs. So they made a Burn Book.

In the wake of an anonymous Steeler commenting on the effort (or lack thereof) put forth by linebacker LaMarr Woodley. Woodley’s production has slacked off over the past two seasons, mainly in part due to injuries. Many fans have started to question Woodley’s dedication to staying in shape.

As it turns out, the fans aren’t the only ones.

“He was awful,” one teammate said of Woodley’s performance last season.

“He tells us he works out, but we didn’t see it. He wasn’t in shape. That has to be a reason why he was always hurt.”

Ouch.

While Woodley has yet to respond to these allegations, Ryan Clark is disappointed that a teammate would publicly call out another member of the team.

“We all have arguments with our brothers, sisters, cousins, but that stays in-house. What you talk about then stays there and it doesn’t get out to the public. So that is the problem,” Clark said. “That shows that this team that is normally close, you had the Joey Porters, the Alan Fanecas, just down the line, leader after leader, this team was close-knit. It shows there is a fracture in that. I think that is the most disappointing thing about that coming out.”

Clark has a point. It’s one thing to bring these kinds of points up in a team meeting, away from the media. It’s another to call out teammates just to stir up trouble.

And seeing as not a single member of the defensive unit was selected to the Pro Bowl, nobody should really be commenting on anybody’s effort, production, or commitment to the team.

It’s not very fetch.

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?

Week 11

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Time: 8:20 PM

TV: ESPN

Site: Heinz Field

Last Meeting: 11/06/11, L 20-23

Baltimore Ravens on Aerys: The Purple Nest

Is there any better rivalry in the NFL than the Steelers-Ravens?

If you were going to answer with anything but “no”, I’m going to have to stop you right there. Sure, other rivalries may have more history or more big name players with flashier stats. But a Steelers-Ravens games always tends to have a certain something to it. That “something” usually is bloodshed and a deep-seated hatred of the other team.

» Continue reading “Week 11 Preview: Baltimore Ravens Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers”

Good news, everyone!

Good news everyone! 

Rashard Mendenhall and Ryan Clark are listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. With the injury issues the Steelers have faced this season, “probable” is a magical word.

Mendenhall has seen limited playing time this season due to the knee injury he suffered at the end of last season as well as the Achilles injury he suffered against the Titans. Clark is coming off his second concussion in three weeks.

As expected, Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Antonio Brown, and Marcus Gilbert will be out for the Steelers. Roethlisberger will be out indefinitely with his shoulder/rib injury. Steel City Blitz contributor Melanie Friedlander discussed her take on Big Ben’s injury in her latest House Calls article.

» Continue reading “Mendenhall And Clark Probable For Sunday”

Pittsburgh Steelers 16 Kansas City 13, OT

The Steelers managed to eek out a win over Kansas City in overtime thanks in part to the great play by the Steelers’ defense and the bone-headed penalties of Kansas City. After spotting Kansas City a 10-0 lead, Pittsburgh actually decided to show up. Ben Roethlisberger tied things up at 10-all when he hit Mike Wallace in the end-zone for a touchdown. I have to give Wallace credit, it was not an easy catch to make, as he ended up controlling the ball between his knees.

Things took a turn for the worst in the second half when Big Ben left the game with a shoulder injury. Byron Leftwich came into the game and things got boring and the offense went nowhere. The only real drive of the second half for the Steelers came as a result of a personal foul penalty on Kansas City for a touchdown that didn’t even count. This eventually set up a Shaun Suisham field goal that gave the Steelers their first lead of the game.

» Continue reading “Steelers Win Despite Playing Like Jerks”

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”

In what is becoming a running theme this season, Troy Polamalu will not play this coming Sunday against the New York Giants. Polamalu has missed the majority of this season with a calf injury.

Marcus Gilbert has also been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Second round draft pick Mike Adams has done an outstanding job filling in for the injured Gilbert. However, the rookie will face his first real test against the New York Giants.

In more promising injury news Ryan Clark practiced for the first time since sustaining a concussion in the game against Washington. Clark will have to pass a series of tests in order to play on Sunday.

“I got dinged. It was a football play,” said Clark. “I passed my test this morning that I had to take. Practice was another test. You have to make sure none of the other systems linger from having a concussion. I feel good. I am going to continue preparing to get ready for the game on Sunday.”

» Continue reading “Steelers Injury Report: Polamalu Out Again”

Pittsburgh Steelers 27 Washington 12

Despite looking like a hoard of tracker jackers and being the laughing stock of the Twitterverse in their new throwbacks, the Pittsburgh Steelers shut down RG III and company on Sunday.

Ben Roethlisberger had another stellar game, throwing for 222 yards and three touchdowns. Heath Miller continues to thrive under the new Todd Haley offense with four receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown. Jonathan Dwyer had another 100-yard running game with 107 yards on the day. After an embarrassing performance on Sunday Night Football last week, Mike Wallace actually caught the ball to be the Steelers’ leading receiver in the game with 62 yards.

» Continue reading “Steelers Win Despite Looking Like Bees”