Another week in the books and even more problems for the Pittsburgh Steelers as things didn't go very well on either side of the ball Monday night as the black-and-gold dropped to 0-2 on the young season with a 20-10 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. Through two weeks there aren't many positives to go around but let's see if there are any as I hand out my Week 2 grades. Quarterback: The offense seemed to move well when Ben Roethlisberger was allowed to speed up the game, but unfortunately ... Read More
Applying “rotating stock” to the NFL Draft
The Steelers’ recent woes can be attributed to many different facets of the NFL puzzle: game planning, personnel, injuries, astrological compatibility of players and coaches, mental acuity of sports writers, meteorological inconsistencies; the list goes on. The slightest change in any one of these “X-factors” can seemingly predetermine the potential outcome of any game or season. I’d like to propose a new fundamental method for undertaking one of these aspects: the draft. The NFL draft is ... Read More
Steelers drop to 0-2 following loss to Bengals
Cincinnati, OH -- The Steelers record is 0-2 to start the season for the first time since 2002. Coming into Cincinnati as the underdog, the Steelers offense once again struggled and the defense had trouble in shutting down both the pass and run game, losing the game 20-10. Pittsburgh was set up with good field position to start their second possession of the game thanks to a big punt return from Antonio Brown. Shaun Suisham was able to knock through a 44-yard field goal to give the Steelers ... Read More
Steelers at Bengals Week 2 preview
Game Notes: Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1; 0-0 away) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-1; 0-0 home) Monday, September 16 - 8:30 pm (televised locally on NBC/WPXI) Paul Brown Stadium - Cincinnati, OH Despite a Week One loss that left little to be optimistic about, the Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1) will have an opportunity to end Week Two in an early-season tie for first place in the AFC North. That opportunity will come Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals (0-1), who lost a close game on the ... Read More
Is Coach Tomlin on the hot seat?
Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have, to say the least, been spoiled by a perennial contender and a trustworthy and successful head coach for decades. Chuck Noll won four Super Bowls during his 33-year tenure, Bill Cowher won one in two appearances over the course of 15 years, and Mike Tomlin has had two Super Bowl teams in just six seasons, winning in 2009 and losing in 2011. The Rooney family has been able to maintain consistency and build a system by putting who they want in charge and ... Read More
Waterloo’s quick hitters
Is Mike Tomlin on the "hot seat?" You're kidding, right? After one game, panic is everywhere in Yinztown. While the team did look pathetic against Tennessee and it won't be good this year (we tried to warn you), it's not because Mike Tomlin is a bad coach. Do I disagree with some of what he does? Yes. Do I think he's a top five coach in the league? No. Is he top 10? Yes. The thing is, with all of the veterans that were signed to big contracts during Tomlin's tenure, this was bound to happen. ... Read More
Todd Haley not to blame for Steelers’ pathetic offense
Following the Pittsburgh Steelers' embarrassing home loss to the Tennessee Titans last Sunday, the loudest cry from the fan base called for Todd Haley's head. To be fair, the fans did get one thing right about their criticism: the problem is on offense. With the Steelers putting up 12 measly points, two of which were handed to them three seconds into the game on a stupid kneel-down in the end zone for a safety, it isn't exactly rocket science figuring out the offense struggled. Ben ... Read More
Steelers drinking challenge
So the Steelers lost their opener. First time in a gazillion years since they lost their opener at home. The stats speak loudly without needing to be verbalized. The mistakes in clock management and play calling were egregious at best. The Steelers best healthy offensive player found himself on the turf more than the Chemlawn guy that sprays my neighbor’s lawn. The offensive line is going to have to let a lot more defenders pass if they want to set any kind of record this season, because ... Read More
Pittsburgh Steelers report card following Week 1 loss
Saying that the Pittsburgh Steelers ‘ performance was ugly Sunday afternoon against the Tennessee Titans would be an understatement as all of the fears about the Steelers offense coming into the season all showed their head as the Steelers dropped their first home opener in over a decade, 16-9 to the visiting Titans. It’s never good when you have more season ending injuries (three) than touchdowns (one) to start the season, but the Steelers were able to pull off that rare feat. Exactly how ... Read More
Steeler Pride Not Only Thing Injured These Days
I didn’t have many expectations heading into this Steeler season and that’s probably a good thing in the wake of Sunday’s 16-9 disaster against the Tennessee Titans. The score makes it seem like this game was closer than it really was. Pittsburgh’s only offensive score came with 1:23 left to go in the game and the Steelers still needing an onsides recovery to have any chance. I’ve always been in the camp of people who felt that the Steelers would always have a chance in a game if Ben ... Read More