Week 5 - Oct 9 - Tennessee

[Robotman]

Titans just ain't quite what they used to be.  Nope.

[jonzr]

Preview on Yahoo!

[jonzr]

Mendenhall’s status because of a hamstring injury suffered last week does not appear as positive. If he’s unable to play, Isaac Redman and Mewelde Moore could split time in the backfield. The pair combined to rush 10 times for 74 yards against the Texans.

Perhaps we'll see Redman get some major carries.  Instead, BA will take this opportunity to throw 60 times.

[otismalibu]

Sixty throws off the back foot.

[kluisi61]

Mendenhall’s status because of a hamstring injury suffered last week does not appear as positive. If he’s unable to play, Isaac Redman and Mewelde Moore could split time in the backfield. The pair combined to rush 10 times for 74 yards against the Texans.

Perhaps we'll see Redman get some major carries.  Instead, BA will take this opportunity to throw 60 times.

And 10 carries for Redman while Moore gets 15.

[aj_law]

Stealing a bit from Mike and Mike..."True or False?"

Chris Johnson rushes for over 100 yards.

Hasselbeck throws for more yards/TDs than Roethlisberger.

Hasselbeck will not get sacked.

Redman's game stats will eclipse Mendenhall's best game performance stats for the year.

The Steelers defense will have more takeaways than the Titans defense.

Hines will bust out his ear-to-ear grin at some point during this game.

[kluisi61]

Stealing a bit from Mike and Mike..."True or False?"

Chris Johnson rushes for over 100 yards. True

Hasselbeck throws for more yards/TDs than Roethlisberger. False/False

Hasselbeck will not get sacked. False

Redman's game stats will eclipse Mendenhall's best game performance stats for the year. True

The Steelers defense will have more takeaways than the Titans defense. True

Hines will bust out his ear-to-ear grin at some point during this game. False

Answers inline.

[steelerfaninCO]

This defense is not very good.

[steelerfaninCO]

finally...good play from Woodley...and another great play from Troy.

[jonzr]

finally...good play from Woodley...and another great play from Troy.

Finally indeed.  And a nice tackle by Troy to force the FG.

[jonzr]

That is a good challenge.  No doubt that was a catch.

[scballersc]

Someone write Bud Selig about the personal foul late hit call that occurred on a play that should have been blown dead.

[jonzr]

Holy shit, 3rd and 1 converted.  Nice job Redman - face forward, no bullshit dancing - first down.

You watching this, Mendenhall?  This is what you'll need to do to get your job back.

[jonzr]

That was sweet.  Maybe these guys are waking up for the season.

[jonzr]

Good coverage, starting behind the 20.  Is that a first for the season, on a KO I mean?

[jonzr]

That 2nd and 5 first down run was typical of the kind of thing Mendenhall would take for 2 yds.  Redman got another 5 yds after contact.

[jonzr]

YEeehaaaaww!!  Perfect trick play, Sepulveda to Mundy!

[jonzr]

How sweet it is .. TOUCHDOWN TO WARD!

[jonzr]

And then crappy KO coverage, 45 yard line.

[jonzr]

3 and out, this defense came to play.  I really thought CJ would get on track this week - so far, so good though.

[jonzr]

I can't believe this.  Dwyer for 70+ and then they pound it a few times and finally pass into the ez out of a power set.  Did Arians take the day off?

[steelerfaninCO]

Looking good so far. The D is playing well after the 1st series.

Redman is showing Mendy how to run the ball. Too bad Dwyer ran out of gas, or that would have been a TD. They have been using that play for years, including the longest TD run in SB history by FWP.

Starks isn't looking too bad.

[jonzr]

Ben is getting rid of the ball quicker, he should play with a plate in his shoe more often.

[jonzr]

Ben just couldn't get to halftime w/out a pick.

[otismalibu]

What a stupid fucking play. Lucky we didn't give them a gift 6.

How 'bout a nice 8 minute drive to start the 3rd?

[jonzr]

What a stupid fucking play. Lucky we didn't give them a gift 6.

How 'bout a nice 8 minute drive to start the 3rd?

Well, maybe the next one.  You know, I was looking at stats and Redman is 11/28.  Watching it, it sure seems much better than those very Mendenhall-like #s.

[jonzr]

Man, I hope Pouncey can get back in there.

[jonzr]

Another TD.  You know, Tennessee's defense must really suck.

[steelerfaninCO]

Hines is having a good day. The Tits D is definitely not very good.

[jonzr]

Man, the Woodman came to play.  Hell, they all did.  I think the D was pissed (seemingly for a change) that they allowed the TD.

And a nice tipped pass by Hood.

[jonzr]

Kick the FG, 21 pt lead.  Don't go for it.

[jonzr]

Good.

[jonzr]

False start kills a good punt, redo, blocked punt and except for a bad block the Titans would have another TD.  The Steelers can't get out of their own way.

So, they can beat crappy teams.  Woo-fucking-hoo.  Maybe they'll be 5-2 heading into the NE, BAL games.  Then all will be revealed.

Ouch, another TD - 3rd and goal from the 20.  Nice.  Hint guys, watch for the onsides kick.

[jonzr]

MIke WAllace!  TOUUUUUUUCHDOWN!

[msdmnr2002]

I dropped Ward in my other league this week - apparently that's what he needed to get going.

[pensodyssey]

I dropped Ward in my other league this week - apparently that's what he needed to get going.

I read in the paper the other week that Hines said it was a "make msdmnr eat his words" kinda game.

Good win.  Lots of sideline shots of Mendenhall looking rueful, and, what, barking at the moon?   

[jonzr]

I dropped Ward in my other league this week - apparently that's what he needed to get going.

I have him on the bench vs YOU this week 

[Finnegans Wake]

The Titans are not as bad as we made them look.  The Steelers made some long overdue adjustments and showed that they are far from dead.

Opening drive, the Steelers D looked like shit, but that was about all they gave up easily.  The OL was so much improved I just about shat my pants.  The DL, ditto.  OC, ditto.  DC, ditto.  Tomlin missed an easy red flag challenge that might have shaved 7 off the final score, but seriously, who the fuck cares?  This was a catharsis win.

1. I love Max Starks.  He came in and played as well as he ever had, without missing a beat.  He is >>> Gilbert >>> J. Scott at LT.  
2. The optimal OL (for us, for now) is Starks, Legs, Pounce, Foster, Gilbert/Scott.  If you could put Legursky's brain into Kemo's frame you'd have a LG, but Legursky isn't off chasing butterflies at any point, and he meshes better with Starks and Pounce.  Pounce is hobbled somewhat but he's out at the second level blasting motherfuckers.  Foster had a notable miss, but he's a proto RG and he's played damned well.  Gilbert was solid all day and has room to improve.  Scott was better at RT than LT, but I hope Gilbert doesn't miss time.
3. The biggest miscues on D were over-pursuits, like when Timmons went backfield and allowed CJ the big initial run.  I think the over-aggressive shit has burned us, and the guys were more disciplined today.
4. The DL is a line in transition as well.  I love Aaron Smith, and I love Casey Hampton, but they have frankly been liabilities this year.  Smith does not appear to have his trademark strength at the POA, and Hamp has been getting cut blocked and has spent far too much time surfing the OL and winding up on his ass.  Keisel was back to par, but Hoke seemed better at mobility and avoiding cuts, and getting serious penetration on a consistent basis; Hood opened shit up for Woodley, who (coincidentally?) finally showed up.  Time to transition, folks.  Hood for Smith, permanently.  Aaron Smith is a great backup at this point, IMO.   Hells, Cam Heywood is pushing for PT of his own, so Hood can't be too comfy.  Motherfucker made some serious assed plays.  In fact, I would love to see some 4-3 mixed in with Hood-Hoke-Hamp-Diesel or Heywood-Hood-Hoke/Hamp-Keisel, taking Potsie out and leaving Timmons at MLB.  
5. Superlative effort from Ike Taylor (again), but also Keenan Lewis (who needs to start) and Billie Gay.  Not so wonderful, Mundy in place of Clark.  Missed why Clark was out?
6. Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown are the future.  Hines Ward isn't giving up on being the present.  Manny Sanders needs to step up to keep in rotation.  Where is Cotch?  Heath is still a fucking bull.  Still trying to work Wes Saunders into the game, but he's not polished enough yet.  David Johnson has worked his way back into my favor.  Clutch guys:  Ward, Miller.  Flash guys:  Wallace, Brown.
7. Redman ground out tough yardage and should have Mendy sweating.  Dwyer showed what a guy can do as the COP to Redman.  Fuck, I don't care if it's Mendy or Dwyer knocking those COP runs, but Redman has shown he can carry the difficult D&D runs.  He put us in position to succeed consistently.  In pregame, Tomlin said he explicitly needed to see something from Jonathan Dwyer.  11-107 showed me plenty.  Jonathan Dwyer may have officially made the team sometime last year, but today he made the team.
8. Should have been on guard against that first onside.  But nice turn of events to get it right back.  Woodley had a nice game overall, not just notching that pick, but also getting a sack2 of Hasselbeck as well as the blocker, simply mauling them.  Still think that starts with the DL action though.  It's all synchronistic.
9.  Loved the late TD to Wallace.  Fully expected to see run-run-run-punt, and the Titans come back with a score.  That TD broke their backs.  Arians is a great playcaller when he's got confidence, but when he's rattled he's just shit.  Today, he was never rattled.  Great calls against expectation, passing for TD when defense expects run, hitting all the weak spots.  The call at the end of 1H should have been 6: Ward and Wallace blocking for Sanders, but the WRs were clearly not set, Ben threw to a spot, and the receivers were 2 seconds late.  If that went as drawn up, 6, easy.  Lucky it wasn't pick-6.  Still:  a ballsy play, I liked the spirit of it.  And did I see a pitch?  No gain, but in the right situation... Mendy breaks that for 25, 30.
10.  The special teams play developed in slo-mo.  I felt the breath leave my lungs as I saw Mundy wide open, Sepulveda take the snap to throw, the whole play laid out before me.  That single play keyed the energy of the game IMO.  The blocked punt was fucked up though.  Sep had a 70 before the penalty.  No way should we be giving 7 on blocked fucking punts.
11. Much better beehive activity of the fr7 today than in previous games.  Even when we'd try and miss, sending Gay on a blitz that resulted in a completed for instance, I liked the tendency to get after the QB.  Keep that up, please.
12. Back to the OL.  We made ONE change, one personnel move that SHOULD have been done before the season started, and got Starks back.  Shame on Kevin Colbert for fucking that up.  But the week he's back, Ben is sacked once AND we put up 38 points.  We should do that EVERY week.  Seriously.  
13. Also, Tomlin had the boys practicing in pads, and the vets put extra time in.  It showed.  Let's not lose that momentum.

Steelers should beat Jax and Zona, and get the Pats for Halloween.  Strange things have happened in our Halloween games, folks.  Don't be surprised if we give the Pats, and the Ravens, some serious fight.

[jonzr]

Yeah, it's amazing how the offense clicked today.  No doubt much of that can be attributed to having a LT on the line.  Don't know what they were thinking by not resigning Starks earlier (in the off season).

I agree with most of that finny except regarding the Titans, I don't think they're that great.  Their wins came against crappy teams.  Today they played an arguably average team and got spanked.  It's more telling to me that Houston beat Pittsburgh last week and lost at home to Oakland this week. 

Even though the Steelers should be 5-2 heading into the NE game I won't feel too optimistic about their prospects unless they continue to look good and make that one competitive.

I was impressed with Arians' game plan and the lack of same prior to today frustrates me to no end.  Same for the defense, but again, I wonder about the level of competition.

[Finnegans Wake]

Basically they're a 3-2 team that beat one quality opponent (Balty), and we're a 3-2 team that beat one quality opponent (Tenn).

[jonzr]

And it pisses me off that I finally picked against the Steelers and they fucked me again.

[Big Virgil]

Roethlisberger obviously had more time to throw the ball, and maybe the receivers were more open than usual, but what a huge difference with Ben compelled to get rid of the ball instead of standing back there taking a pounding.

I'm not saying he should play Bubby style, duck-n-throw, but maybe when he doesn't feel like he got hit by a truck today, like he usually does, maybe he'll "get it".

Hard to believe the Titans that the Steelers played yesterday is the same team that put a beat down on the Ravens.

[Finnegans Wake]

Hard to believe the Titans that the Steelers played yesterday is the same team that put a beat down on the Ravens.

Parody in the NFL.

Ravens >>> Steelers >>> Titans >>> Ravens... reductio ad absurdum.

[Finnegans Wake]

Few more thoughts. 

I was confused by why Mundy was in, thought he replaced Clark, but it looks like LeBeau re-configured the dime.  So Lewis plays outside CB, Gay moves to the slot, Mundy takes over SS, and Pola moves to ILB.  Clever.  LeBeau never did that before because he was loathe to lose the speed of Timmons.  But with Timmons playing OLB, he could have Timmons and Pola on the field.

Looks to me like that should be a permanent change.  Give Harrison a breather in dime packages, let Pola muddle the middle.  Hasselbeck's post-game comments were pretty much that Polamalu confused the shit out of him.

Also, bloody obvious, but isn't it nice that an improved OL leads to better running, and when you run effectively you can do some PA?  Who fucking knew, right?