The 2013 offseason produced multiple coaching changes for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Special teams coach Danny Smith, wide receivers coach Richard Mann, and offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr joined the Black ‘n Gold. And with the hiring of Bicknell, rumblings of a switch from a power to zone blocking scheme. We’ll look at the Steelers vs Chiefs, Bicknell’s former team, from last year to see specifically what changes could occur. The zone blocking scheme, created by Howard Mudd, has two ... Read More
Pittsburgh Passion Sweep Season Series vs Columbus Comets
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Passion pull off their second win against the Columbus Comets this season on their journey to the playoffs. The Passion won 35 – 14 against the Comets tonight. Passion Quarterback, Lisa Horton, lead the offense again this week with 217 passing yards. Passion Wide Receivers, Rachel Wojdowski, had 101 receiving yards and 5 receptions with a touchdown, and Angela Baker with 5 receptions and 95 receiving yards also, with one touchdown against the Comets. Passion ... Read More
Plaxico Burress May Struggle to Earn Roster Spot with Steelers
Last year the Pittsburgh Steelers chose to only carry four wide receivers on their 53-man roster to start the season. More receivers came in later on due to injuries, but Todd Haley’s offense uses two-tight end sets and pass-catching running backs, which makes four to five receivers plenty. With some younger and less experienced receivers expected to play a role for the Steelers in 2013 it seems likely they will carry five receivers this year to have some extra depth. Right now the Steelers ... Read More
Bad Umpires Control Baseball
It should have never happened Saturday night. The Pirates shouldn't have relinquished an eighth inning lead to the lowly Astros, nor should they have allowed Jose Cisnero and Jose Veras to shut them down for the final 4 2/3 innings. But they did and the Pirates lost 4-2 in 11 innings. The most frustrating thing to me though, was the way Home Plate Umpire C.B. Bucknor conducted himself after making the controversial call at the plate in the top of the 11th that allowed Jason Castro to score on ... Read More
Colin Greening scores in double overtime to cut series lead to 2-1 Pittsburgh
This is what the playoffs are all about. The Pittsburgh Penguins held a 1-0 lead and played a strong defensive third period for the first 19:31. But a shorthanded goal from Daniel Alfredsson tied the game and the Ottawa Senators won in double overtime by score of 2-1. Both teams took a scoreless tie into the second period and almost went into the second intermission with a deadlock as well. But Tyler Kennedy scored his second goal of the playoffs with 1:07 remaining in the second to give ... Read More
Locke-down: Pirates win 1-0 as Jeff Locke goes seven scoreless
The Pirates' recent success over the Houston Astros continued, Sunday afternoon, as the Pirates defeated the Astros 1-0 in one of the shortest games this season. Jeff Locke went seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out four as he out-dueled Houston's right hander, Lucas Harrell whose quick starts led to a game time of just 2 hours and 24 minutes. "Harrell was very good today but Locke was just better...[Locke's] fastball wasn't where he wanted it to be, ... Read More
Pittsburgh Power fall to Tampa Bay Storm 62-34
Where is Christopher Lloyd when you need him? Just when it seems like the Pittsburgh Power’s prayers were answered at quarterback, Steven Sheffield came out in front of the home crowd and laid a real stinker as the Power fell to the Tampa Bay Storm 62-34. Maybe it’s time to start believing in other beings and I would like to suggest the Power faithful start flapping their arms to call for angels to come and help this team. It might make for a feel-good Disney movie called “Angels In The ... Read More
Astros win in 11 innings; Snap Pittsburgh’s win streak at four
Jose Cisnero pitched 3 2/3 innings of shutout ball and allowed the Houston offense to plate two runs in the 11th as the Astros defeated the Pirates 4-2, Saturday night. AJ Burnett allowed five hits, one run, and walked four while striking out seven over seven innings. His counterpart, former Pirate Erik Bedard, threw six innings allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out three. The Astros loaded the bases with one out in the top half of the first, but AJ Burnett struck out Chris ... Read More
Pirate of the Week: Francisco Liriano
When Francisco Liriano left the Minnesota Twins, mostly everyone had counted his career as "over". In 2006, Liriano won 12 games and had an ERA of 2.16. He's never really gotten back to that form it seems. But now with the Pirates, he's seemingly starting his career over again. This past week, Liriano made his first two starts for the Buccs, picking up a win in each outing. With a 2-0 record, he has an ERA of 1.64. He also has 16 strikeouts through two games. He hasn't went extremely deep in a ... Read More
Penguins outlast the Senators for 4-3 Victory
Despite out-shooting the Ottawa Senators 42-22, the Penguins had to withstand a late flurry from the Senators to hang on for a 4-3 win Friday at Consol Energy Center in game two of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series. The Penguins now lead the series 2-0. It is the first time since the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes that the Penguins have had a 2-0 advantage in a series. Sidney Crosby picked up his second career playoff hat trick to lead the Pens, ... Read More