Harrison Fine Reduced on Purpose Prior to Pro Bowl?

As I was sitting IMing with a friend the other day about the Pro Bowl and he was mentioning the LaMarr Woodley snub (he is a Titans fan, by the way), a thought occurred to me about the Steelers' Pro Bowlers.  Wouldn't it be interesting, I thought to myself, if the entire Steelers team gave 2 big middle fingers to Roger Goodell and Ray Anderson by refusing to attend the Pro Bowl.  That would be epic I thought.

Now, of course, no Steeler fans want any of the Steelers to attend the Pro Bowl simply because we all want them to go to the Super Bowl.  But in the absence of achieving that goal, I think it would be an incredible gesture on the part of the team to support their guy, James Harrison, in protest of all the fines and also in protest to an abnormal number of incredibly poor personal foul calls on many of the players on defense this season.  It would even be interesting to see, for instance, if rookie Maurkice Pouncey and some of the other players on offense would jump on board.  By no means should we feel that they must, but it would downright fun if they did.

So, what about the timing of the reduced fines? It strikes me as quite odd that the league reduces the fines for James Harrison and Brandon Meriweather right after the Pro Bowl balloting.  These two Pro Bowlers got hit with stiff fines this season, $75K ($125K total) and $50K, respectively, for James and Brandon.  Those amounts were reduced this week, but what the league must be realizing is: what if these guys they are fining and their defensive cohorts start deciding not to play in the Pro Bowl because of the league's unfair actions.  What the league is going to get is like the situation for the AFC quarterback in last year's Pro Bowl.  That was David Garrard.  He's a good player, but he certainly doesn't belong in the Pro Bowl and only got there because many other QBs opted out and Peyton Manning was playing in the Super Bowl.  The NFL is reducing the fines on these guys because they don't want an entire AFC defense composed of David Garrards.  The NFL labor agreement situation isn't going to make this any better.  So, for a change, maybe the league will have to pay for its actions.  If that ends up the case, I love it!  And it is much deserved.

It was stupid of the league to move the game to Miami in the first place.  It was stupid of them to move it to the weekend before the Super Bowl, ensuring that the league's best players who are playing in the Super Bowl can't play.  It was stupid of them to ensure that guys like Garrard get in when other guys opt out because they aren't yet healed after a long season.  It's disrespectful to former players to water down what it means to be in a Pro Bowl by letting a bunch of better than average, not great, players in.  Thankfully, Goodell in all his wisdom has fixed one of those things: it's back in Hawaii.

Well, given all that's gone on this season, other than the Steelers winning the Super Bowl, nothing would please me more than to see a bunch of 4th and 5th-team guys on defense out there for the AFC in the Pro Bowl.  And I would love it if the Steelers O gave them the 2nd middle finger.

Steelers 2011 Free Agent Preview

Back at the beginning of the season, The Steeler Depot put together a great preview of the Steelers' 2011 free agents.  Now that the Steelers have clinched a playoff birth, I thought it might be an interesting time to take a look at what's on tap for the 2011 version of the Steelers.  This, of course, is all dependent on the collective bargaining agreement being worked out between the players and owners.  But here's a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the team and what they need to address in the draft.

Most Important Players To Sign

• Ike Taylor (CB): One of the most underrated, solid cover corners in the league, Ike Taylor is likely up for a big payday in 2011.  The question is: are the Steelers willing to pay it?  In the past, they have not paid for anyone other than superstars.  And signing a 30-year old CB to a big contract is not likely.  Unfortunately, despite drafting numerous cornerbacks in recent years and Mike Tomlin originally being a DB coach, the Steelers have literally no quality CBs.  Unless you think Crezdon Butler is the second coming of Rod Woodson, the Steelers are in trouble here.  At this point, I am wondering if it doesn't make the most sense to use the franchise tag on Taylor.
• Willie Colon (RT): Unfortunately, Colon got the double whammy this year.  He was injured and lost for the season.  But on top of that, if no collective bargaining agreement gets signed, Colon will be a restricted free agent, meaning he is likely to receive far less money than if he were a free agent.  It sounds like Colon may have been able to return this season if the Steelers had not put him on IR.  The Steelers cannot afford to lose any talent on the offensive line.  As the best lineman for the Steelers (other than inexperienced Maurkice Pouncey) I see Colon as a must sign whether he is restricted or not.
• LaMarr Woodley (OLB): This guy is a beast. But this will be a tough call.  The Steelers did a great job of drafting LBs in 2010.  In fact, they had to cut one of them that was probably starter quality and the 49ers picked him up.  Woodley has been awesome, especially in the playoffs.  But if we can't keep one big-pay guy and we are really weak and CB and we need depth and talent on the offensive line, who would you let go between Woodley, Colon and Taylor.  I do not envy this decision if it is truly a decision that has to be made.  One wild card, as well, is if Hines Ward decides to retire and take his $4 million/yr salary with him.

I wonder what happens to...

• Mewelde Moore: The Steelers don't have a true pass-catching back for 3rd downs if they want to keep Mendy rested.  But what about the $1.5 million paid Moore?  I am sure the Steelers would love to keep him, but there may be a cheaper option out there.
• Randle El: With all the young depth at WR, can the Steelers really afford to pay El $2 million?
• Hoke: Love Hokey, but he is making $1.5 million as well and the Steelers will looking to find the heir apparent to Casey Hampton.
• Spaeth: This guy is making $1mil/yr and really isn't earning it in my opinion.  We need a new up and comer to backup Heath.
• Farrior: This guy has been killer this year and out of respect, I think the Steelers keep him at $3million/yr.
• Foote: With all the depth at LB, I think the Steelers keep Fox, and Foote hits the road at $3.3 million/yr.  Fox is 1 year younger.
• Fox: He is great on special teams and very good on defense.  I think you bring him back as a free agent to a medium term contract and lose Foote.
• Flozell: On the list of things that will never happen, but that I would love to see: When Willie Colon returns, Flozell moves in to right guard and Willie stays at right tackle.  With 2 beasts on the right side for 1 year, we would steamroll people running the ball.
• Battle: Great on special teams according to his teammates, but can we pay $1million for that with all the WR depth?  Tomlin won't neglect special teams, though.
• Dixon: Perhaps the biggest question here is whether or not the Steelers have a trading chip in Dennis Dixon?  Could they get a quality CB for Dixon?  Leftwich is signed through 2011 and I am sure Dixon want to start.  I wonder if he showed enough for any teams to have interest?

Strengths:

• WR: The Steelers have done a masterful job of drafting wide receivers the past few years.  Mike Wallace is a certified game-changer.  Rookies Sanders and Brown look to be the real deal as well.  This instills a lot of confidence in the years to come once Ward retires.  And don't forget Limas Sweed will be back from injury.  Steelers fans have been hard on him, but he has gotten open and I would love to see the guy come back from adversity and succeed.
• QB: With Ben, Leftwich and Dixon, the Steelers look stacked.  Makes me wonder if we could trade Dixon to shore up another weaker area of the team.
• LB: Just like with WR, the Steelers did well in the draft picking LBs.  They also have solid, experienced backups in Foote and Fox, who hopefully returns being a free agent.
• RB: With Mendy and Redman, we are solid.  Moore is a free agent, but we also have last year's draft choice, Jonathan Dwyer.  If Moore goes, we will need to find a pass-catching 3rd down back or risk Mendy being overworked.

Need Depth:

• D-line: The D-line is still solid, but the Steelers need to start thinking about a replacement for Casey Hampton.  That could happen either this year or next.  Eason is a free agent, as is Hoke, although my guess is both would like to stay.
• Safety: Much like we found depth to backup Aaron Smith with Ziggy Hood, we need to find depth to backup Troy Polamalu.  Getting that depth possibly helped save this season with Aaron Smith going down with injury.

Weaknesses:

• CB: Ike Taylor is a free agent and the Steelers literally have no solid CBs beyond him.  McFadden is OK as is Gay.  Both are not consistent, though.  Keenan Lewis looks like he freaks out on every play so who knows if he will even be on the team next year.  Beyond them, we don't know much about Crezdon Butler.  The Steelers are really in trouble here.  If the Steelers put the franchise tag on Taylor, look for them to spend a 2nd or 3rd round pick on a DB.
• O-line: Although, the Steelers hit a home run with C Maurkice Pouncey, the line is an area of concern.  Both tackles will be coming back from injury.  Flozell will be a free agent as will Colon, Essex, and Legursky.  My guess is all these guys will be back and Hills will be gone given he can't crack the starting lineup when 3 tackles have gone down.  Flozell won't be back, though, unless either he or Colon move to RG.  Essex and Legursky have position flexibility which makes them valuable.  Who knows on Jonathan Scott...he has been a sieve and benched at times.  Look for the Steelers to spend a 1st or 2nd round draft pick on a Tackle or Guard.

Overall, we have big concerns along the line because of the injuries and the lack of quality depth.  Our DB's depend on Ike and and we are in need of another solid CB and depth in case Polamalu gets injured.  I think the Steelers may be forced to wait another year (or gamble in a late round) for Casey Hampton's replacement.  The D-Line has played solid despite injuries this season.  That says to me that the 1st and 2nd rounds will be CB and a offensive lineman in either order.  We might draft a TE late and replace Spaeth.  In the 3rd/4th it would be great to take another O-lineman and/or a backup for Polamalu.  We won't draft a WR or LB.  We will gamble on a 5th or 6th rounder for a NT, possible, and depending on what happens with Dennis Dixon, we may need a back up QB.  Here's my best guess as to how it plays out:

Round 1: T

Round 2: CB

Round 3: S

Round 4: G

Round 5: NT

Round 6: TE

Round 7: LB

Good luck to the Steelers in the playoffs and we'll get back to this topic after the Super Bowl.

Playoffs For the Steelers It Is

With a loss to the Jets a week ago the Steelers still managed to secure a playoff spot with some help.  Then, with a victory over the Panthers, the Steelers assured themselves of keeping pace with Baltimore who beat Cleveland.  So, the AFC North crown will come down to the Steelers having to beat the Skidmarks in Cleveland (or Baltimore losing at home to the Bungals).  You have to like the fact that the Steelers go into this game with 10 days between games.  This mini-bye coupled with a first round bye would be a tremendous way to enter the playoffs for a team that has been banged up all season.

So, what have we learned over the past week about the Steelers:

• The Steelers have formed an identity on offense: They are a passing team that can break a big run occasionally.  More on this below.
• Matt Spaeth isn't the answer as the backup tight end of the future in waiting.
• Troy Polamalu is quite possibly the most important defensive player to his team in the league.

The Steelers have a young group of budding star WRs.  Manny Sanders has been showing up big lately, catching 7 passes against the Jets and 4 against the Panthers.  Antonio Brown has caught 2 passes in each of the past 2 games, as well.  Mike Wallace and Big Ben are now tied as the most prolific big play QB-WR duo in Steelers' history according to TD passes of more than 40+ yards after only 31 games.  These 3 guys, coupled with Hines Ward, Heath Miller and Mendy/Moore out of the backfield, form a frightening array of talent for Big Ben to distribute the ball to.  And the fact they have been hitting their stride the final 4 weeks of the season bodes well for opposing playoff defenses not being sure what is coming at them from the Steelers offense.

Unfortunately, there is one receiver who has not held up his end of the bargain, TE Matt Spaeth.  Not to bag on Spaeth, but he was targeted 8 times, and had 3 catches versus New York including a dropped TD pass that would have won the game.  Spaeth will be a free agent at the end of the season and with David Johnson having a 3 catch outing a couple weeks ago, Spaeth  could be on the chopping block at the end of the season.

Troy Polamalu once again approved his value by not playing and the Steelers losing to the Jets.  In case, you forgot for the past couple weeks, what he is capable of, here is a little reminder:

Troy Polamalu - Walking Highlight Reel

If we can get Troy and Aaron Smith healthy during the bye week, that would be a boon to the Steelers both mentally and physically.  Now, let's just hope that the Steelers come out of the Cleveland game healthy.

Jets at Steelers Preview

Injuries continue to mount for the Steelers.  They will be without Troy Polamalu, possibly for the rest of the regular season and they will be without Heath Miller again due to concussion symptoms.  The Steelers were terrible last season when missing both Aaron Smith and Polamalu.  This certainly makes it much easier on the Jets.  Fortunately, the Jets are also missing one of their starting safeties.

Steelers Offensive Breakdown
On offense Steelers fans can only hope to have a running game as the Jets have one of the top rush defenses.  The barely ran the ball 20 times against a terrible Bengal rush defense last week.  I don't think it will be much different this week.  The Jets will be blitzing Big Ben all game and a ground game will be critical to keeping them honest.  Look for Mewelde Moore to be on the field a bit more to run some screens and draws to help neutralize some of the blitzes.  Once again this week, the Steelers might employ 4 WR sets with Ward, Wallace, Brown and Sanders.  I think we will also have some David Johnson sightings as we did 2 weeks ago against Baltimore given that Matt Spaeth was close to useless last week.  Also, Ben and Arians mentioned a need to try to gain a few yards in the red zone rather than always going for the score.  Look for some short, quick pass plays and some runs inside the 20 to try to gain yardage rather than shooting for the end zone every time.

Steelers Defensive Breakdown
On defense, the Steelers are playing a Jets team that has been struggling.  Stopping the run won't be the problem.  So, as usual, the Steelers will have to take their lumps in the passing game.  Santonio Holmes will be looking for a big game.  And the Jets have solid TE Dustin Keller and WR Braylon Edwards who shows up occasionally.  I think the Jets will try to spread the Steelers out with 3 and 4 WRs and have LT catch some passes out of the backfield.  The Jets also have a young, 2nd year QB in Mark Sanchez.  Look for Dick LeBeau to try to confuse Sanchez and rattle him with some early blitzes.

Overall, this game will come down to which defense forces the most turnovers and can convert them into points. If the Sanchez from the past few weeks shows up, the Steelers will walkover the Jets.  But if both offenses struggle, I expect this to be another 10-6 game like last week for the Jets against Miami.  Either team could win it.  Hopefully, it will be the Steelers as a win would put them in great shape for winning the AFC North with games against 1-win Carolina and Cleveland coming up.

Recap: Bengals at Steelers

In my last post, I suggested that the Steelers might try to mix their rookie WRs, Manny Sanders and Antonio Brown against the Bengals.  I wouldn't say I was completely right, but Brown did catch 3 balls and Sanders had a couple thrown his way until he was injured.  In his place, Randle El had an amazing catch.  Matt Spaeth did not live up to the Heath Miller standard.  I hope the Steelers move away from him this week as Heath won't be playing again and he looked over-matched last week.

The play selection was a bit perplexing and I think that was a problem in scoring TDs.  Bruce Arians continues to use the empty set in key short yardage situations.  I simply don't understand this.  Why on earth do you want to tell the defense on 3rd and short that you definitely aren't running the ball?  You completely remove the play fake options as well that could be used to open up some passing windows.  It baffles me.  The Steelers threw the ball on every single 3-2, 3-3, 3-4 and on one 3rd and 1 yard.  They converted 5/7 which is great, but you have to wonder, against a team that gives up 4.6 yard/carry, why they didn't run on some of those plays.  It's definitely worrisome heading into a game with a much better run defense in the Jets.

On defense, hats off to Troy Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley.  If that effort didn't thrust Polamalu into MVP and Defensive Player of the Year candidacy, I don't know what will.

Steelers to RUN and Gun without Heath?

First, thanks to Ray Anderson and Roger Goodell for pissing me off enough to start writing this blog again after a couple years' absence.  Now on to the good stuff.

Imagine this: Heath Miller is lost to a concussion in week 13, leaving the Steelers looking for new offensive options in his absence.  A couple of rookie wide receivers have been cutting their teeth in the earlier portion of the season and, as Mike Tomlin put it, there were finally "2 dogs and 2 bones" in week 13 where they both suited up and played.  What result does that lead to in week 14?

We are going to see the future this Sunday when the Steelers play the Bengals.  With Heath out, Steelers' fans have to expect that there will be a good number of occasions where the offense will line up with Ward, Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders.  Now that is a frightening combination for opposing defenses!  I'm sure we will see plenty of Matt Spaeth, as well.  But, honestly, who would you rather see?  Spaeth or the rookie combo platter of Sanders and Brown?

We could be witnessing the birth of a new era.  I'm not talking the fad that was the Tommy Maddox days.  And I expect we will see plenty of Mendy, as well.  He will be toting the rock plenty, along with Isaac Redman, against a Bengal D that gives up 4.6 yards/carry.  But what better game to experiment a bit with our new weapons than against a defense that cannot seem to get to the QB and that can't stop the run?  What better time than week 14 of the season to give other teams more offensive options for which their defenses have to gameplan?

We've all seen what Brown and Sanders can do on punt and kickoff returns.  Now we get to see what they can do after the catch once Mike Wallace cuts the head off the coverage by burning down the field and Hines draws underneath attention.  This is exciting and I am looking forward to some occasions of 1st and 10 and 3rd and long (hopefully, not too many of the latter) this week to see what our new boys can do!

None of this would have happened if Heath had not been hurt.  And there's no way anyone would ever hope for that (speedy recovery, Heath).  Ideally, we would have seen it in some meaningless late season games.  But our chance to see it will be with a chance to up our division record and clinch a playoff spot.

Here's to you kids!  And good luck!

Open Letter to Ray Anderson, Roger Goodell and All NFL Officials

Hi Ray, Roger and the rest of the stooges -

NFL football has been around a hell of a lot longer than any of you.  And the Steeler defense has been hard-nosed and hard-hitting for a hell of a lot longer than any of you have held your current positions.  I used to be an ardent fan of the NFL and actually liked what you, Roger, were up to in terms of keeping players accountable for their behavior.  But the recent actions with respect to James Harrison and the Steelers have made me hate what you have done.  It threatens the very existence of the game.  Not to mention it threatens defensive players' safety as they are trying to adjust mid-season to this change in "interpretation" of the rules.

The reality, though, is this is largely not even about James Harrison.  Maybe it is in your eyes.  I mean he was the one who criticized you after a huge missed holding penalty versus the Jags in the playoffs a couple years ago.  And then he criticized you for not calling holding in the Steelers defense's favor for about 7 straight games a couple years ago.  He had a point...that was an incredible defense that won the Super Bowl...7 straight games? no holding? really?  Harrison gets held on about every other series at best if you watch closely.  And now days he's criticizing you for putting skirts on all the offensive players.  But like I said, this isn't about him.

What's it about?  It's about you wrecking a long-standing tradition that teams can win with good, hard-nosed, fair defensive play - a tradition that has been around since long before any of you acquired your current positions.  It's about the undue attention you are bringing on the Steelers that is leading to more personal foul penalties.  Many of them are being completely incorrectly called.  It's happening to other teams, as well, but none worse than Pittsburgh.

At the risk of having the typical fans of the other teams (and you) perceive me as just yet another fan bitching about calls, I challenge you to go back and have a look at each of the plays below.  Most of them are simply absurd.  Virtually none of them involve our good friend, James.  And most of the ones that were incorrectly called (or not called) on offense don't involve him either:

Bengals game

- 4th Qtr: Hampton hits Palmer on the thigh and gets 15 yards and 1st down.  Ike Taylor flagged for pass interference.  2 penalties, 35 of 36 yards and led to a TD from the 1 yard line that almost cost them the game.  You were nice enough to apologize for 2 of the 3 penalties here because Hampton was blocked into Palmer on top of hitting him above the knee.

New England

- Sure we all know that Brady is going to get more calls but you can't tell me that Ben wasn't hit numerous times during the game later than Woodley hit Brady for a 15 yarder and 1st down.

- The worst call (or lack thereof) is when Hines Ward gets hit helmet to helmet.  On the field it's ruled a catch.  Belichek challenges and even though the ref presumably sees Hines getting hit in the head 14 times on replay.  Catch overruled, ending Hines' consecutive games with catch streak.  Not sure how this was different from Harrison's hit on Massaquoi except that Hines actually caught the ball instead of bobbling it and dropping his head like the Cleveland WR and Harrison hits harder than the weaklings in the Pats secondary.

Oakland

- Watch half of any of the penalties in the game.  This was the worst officiated game I have seen in 30+ years of watching football.  In his weekly chat, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said it was the worst since '74 or '75.  The crowd was chanting "refs you suck" multiple different times when the Steelers were up 28-3.  The focus shouldn't be on the refs at that point, yet it still was.  That's how bad it was...and I'm not talking about the Seymour thing either (altho with 2 prior incidents - including hair pulling - you have to wonder why he wasn't fined $75K like Harrison)

- The worst call of this game was Ryan Clark getting flagged for helmet to helmet even though his helmet was about a foot and a half away from the WR's helmet.  Clark gets injured on the 1st quarter play because he was trying to stay low in a great example of defensive players being put at risk by your inadequate and subjective "enforcement" policy.

Buffalo 

- There was the borderline hit by Harrison that not surprisingly gets called (and the refs hand is in his pocket before Harrison even gets to Fitzpatrick).

- But the worst non-call, non-fine here is 2 Bills players mauling Ben and bending him over on his knee and hitting him in the head for about 4 seconds after the play...watch any highlight reel and you will probably see that.

Ravens

- Ben gets a broken nose, no call.  Admittedly, it is something easily missed but if the refs were as focused on protecting him as they are on making sure the flag every single thing close to a personal foul on the D, Steelers would get that call.

- Heath Miller nearly gets decapitated in plain site of everyone.  No flag.  This is probably the most atrocious non-call of them all next to Ben at Buffalo because it severely injured Miller.

- Here's a couple ticky tack non-calls for fun: on the play where Ben amazingly evades Suggs, Suggs hits him in the helmet and Chris Kemoeatu gets horse collared when he picked up a fumble at one point.  Neither play called and admittedly borderline and hard to notice.  If any of those were Harrison he would be penalized and fined, though.

And Finally...Harrison

- Last time I checked 3 guys were sacking Vince Young.  I don't know how you body slam somebody by picking up their legs either.  But whatever. $5K fine.

- Massaquoi bobbling a ball and then ducking his head.  Harrison leading with his shoulder.  Absolutely nothing he could have done differently.  Are defensive players supposed to let the player tip the ball along down the field for a TD and only catch it when they are in the end zone or something?  This play was no different from the Hines Ward hit in the New England game except the guy got hit harder.  Hitting hard is not a penalty...not to mention the guy had 3 or more steps trying to catch the ball...he should have protected himself by that point. $75K fine...really?  For trying to hit a guy normally?  And Seymour, Johnson and Finnegan (who's no angel) get $25K.

- Brees: totally fair call

- Fitzgerald: borderline...but I think it was a textbook tackle.  The ball leaves Fitz's hand literally less than a second before Harrison hits him.  You can't react in that amount of time.  Also, if Harrison's head is aimed to the left side, and Fitzgerald whips his arm around throwing the ball, the of course his head is going to hit the QB.  What is he supposed to aim at the air 2 feet to the left of the guy so his shoulder (and not helmet) might hit him?

Sorry to bore you with the gory details.  But this is happening every week and the media just thinks it's people (and players and Tomlin) bitching about typical penalties.  It's not.  It's not a conspiracy, but the increased scrutiny on the Steelers has led to a lot of missed and poor calls.  I commend Tomlin and the Rooneys for calling out your sorry asses.  The NFL needs to wake up and realize that there is a complete lack of clarity and they also need to allow review of these 15 yard, first down penalties that can change games. Because many of them have recently been just plain wrong.  Also, call it both ways for Christ's sake!  The integrity of the league so many of us used to love is at stake and so is the long-standing tradition of winning games with defense.

Scott


PS Bengals Game
- Amazingly, it's been 2 games and the officials haven't called a single garbage 15-yard penalty against the Steelers.  Unfortunately, they continue to ignore protecting the Steelers' QB.  Ben was kneed in the head after the play, hit in the face again, and hit very late by Bengal safety, Roy Williams.  The hit to the head was eerily similar to the one that broke his nose.  I would venture to say that if he hadn't been wearing the visor, he may have re-broken his nose or gotten en eye injury.