Ross Wins Weekly Hard Hat Award (Game #7, vs. Balt.)
Stiller OT Oliver Ross is the winner of my weekly Hard Hat Award, given to the Stiller player who best embodies the iron-tough, hard-as-steel attitude of the steel workers inside the blast furnace of a still mill.
The journeyman OT from Iowa State made his first ever NFL start this past Sunday, in place of the team's best all-around O-lineman, Wayne Gandy. Facing the NFL's best front 7, and mostly facing quick, rugged Raven DE Mike McCrary, this had disaster written all over it. After all, Ross had bounced from Dallas to Philly to Chicago to Pittsburgh, and had yet to start an NFL game. But "The Big O" fought off Raven defenders tooth and nail all day. Ross had some troubles...in fact, on his first place play from scrimmage, he whiffed on his blocking assignment. But Ross hung tough, and in true Hard Hat fashion, he blocked with grit, tenacity, and determination. Not once was Ross beaten on a pass play so badly that QB Kordell Stewart was harried or blasted by Ross' man. Ross entered the game as a huge question mark, but emerged afterwards as an exclamation mark and a man whom his teammates can count on in the future.
Kudos to Oliver for winning the weekly Hard Hat Award. Wear the Hard Hat proudly, Oliver !!
Previous Winners:
Week 6 vs. Tenn: Kendrell Bell
Week 5, @ Tampa: Joey Porter
Week 4, @ KC: Kendrell Bell
Week 3, vs. Cinci: Aaron Smith
Week 2, @ Buff: Hines Ward
Week 1, @ Jax: Joey Porter