Stillers-Chefs Postgame Analysis and Grades

Stillers 45, Chefs 7 ���. Oct. 15, 2006 ����Game #5��

Stillers-Chefs Postgame Analysis and Grades

The Stillers took out their pent-up frustration by delivering a total beat-down to the hapless Chefs, 45-7.� (Editor's note: due to some bizarre technical glitch by DirecTv, I didn't get the broadcast of the 3Q or the 1st half of the 4Q, so some mentionable plays may not be covered in this report.)

Grades:

QB:� Benji had, by far, his best game of the season, completing 16 of 19 for 238 yards.� Most importantly, he finally threw a 2006 regular season TD pass (2 today, in fact) while throwing zero INTs.�� Ben may have been at his best on a critical 3d & 15 play in the 2Q, when he stepped up in the pocket and rifled a deep crosser to Ward that netted 28 yards.� This play showed the complete Ben package that we've sorely been missing thus far -- good instincts, good reading, good initiative and aggressiveness, and good decisiveness.� Ben also hit Nate and Ward with big TD passes.� There was some spottiness, though.� In the 1Q, Ben threw a deep ball to Nate, as a secondary receiver, that was lobbed too high and was a bit underthrown.� There was also a late pass on an out to Holmes, after double-clutching, late in the 2Q.� Walls busted this play up, and a better DB would have picked it off and taken it to the house.� Ya can't throw late and hesitantly on the out in the NFL, as Chefs' backup QB Arthur Conan Croyle found out when Rian Wally picked him late in the game.�� At any rate, it was good to see this kind of crispness and effectiveness from Benji.�� Batch got work in garbage time and mostly just handed off the ball.�� A.�

RB:� Parker had a solid day, rushing for 109 yards on 21 carries and 2 TDs.� Willie had a good power run for the 1st TD, and then spun out of LB Kawika Mitchell's tackle for the 2nd TD on an 11-yard run. Park also had a big 25-yard run in the 2Q, and might've gotten more had he not slipped on the shitty Heinz turf. Park also had a key 11-yard run that set up the PAP that led to Nate's long TD catch.�� Parker did cough it up twice in the 3Q (resulting in 1 turnover), although one was after a brutal hit.� Davenport was splendid in relief, gaining 78 yards on just 12 carries and a short plunge for a TD.� He ripped off a few large chunks of yardage, including a 48-yard jaunt.� Haynes grabbed 2 passes and ran 5 plunges.�� A.

FB: Kreider helped spring many of the large holes that Dav and Parker cruised through.� He got injured in the 2H, and if injured for any length of time, this would be a very costly injury.��� A.

WR:� Hines led the way with 59 yards on 5 grabs, and a nice pluck of a catch for a big TD. Nate had 3 grabs, and bounced off Page after the catch for the big TD.� Wash also had a good RAC on a 3d & 4 screen late in the 2Q that netted 7.� Nate did mis-time his jump on the deep ball in the 1Q; had he drifted downfield another step and timed his jump better, he might have hauled in this pass.�� Holmes had a breakout day.� He ignited the offense early on, snaring a short hitch and took off on a 50-yard play.� Holmes also had a good block on Dav's 48-yard scamper.�� And, "San Antonio" also took a direct snap and scampered around end for a 13-yard gainer.�� Wilson finally broke out of his doldrums with a solid game, catching 3 balls for 42 yards.� He made a terrific adjustment on a deep out that was thrown behind in the 1Q, which he caught for a 19-yard gain.� Reid did not dress.�� A.

TE:� Miller was ignored in the 1H, but caught 1 pass in the 3Q for 16 yards.� Once that block was checked, he was ignored the rest of the game.� The blocking was very good.�� A.

OL: After slathering around in a total funk against the Chargers, the O-line came out with a vengeance and simply mauled the Chef front-7. Gaping holes were opened with regularity.� BenRoth was given good time and room to operate in the pocket.� One play stood out that made me beam with pride and joy.� Late in the 1Q, Parker ripped off an 11-yard run.� On this play, Chris Kemo, starting in place of Simmons, easily blistered his man, while Max Starks not only got a block off the snap of the ball, but then got to the 2nd level and picked off a LB.� Kemo also had a strong block on Parker's 7-yard run early in the 2Q.� We all need to hope Kemo gets another start next week, as he acquitted himself superbly in his maiden NFL voyage.� Smith had a nice down block on Parker's 2nd TD run.� Faneca threw a good block on Daven's long run.� Overall, this was a sight for sore eyes after last week's embarrassing debacle out in San Diego.�� A.

DL:� The D-line was very active and stingy today.� LJ never got untracked, and much of that was due to the tough labor by this D-line.� Leading the way was Brett Keisel, who had a very strong game.� The play late in the 1Q, where Keisel read the play and then tripped up LJ for a 1-yard gain, showed me that this man has fully assumed the starting job.� He also had a good read and good hustle on a 2Q screen to LJ� that was stopped for a 3-yard loss.� Hampton and Smith were sound, and Kirschke and Hoke got a lot of PT in garbage time.�� A.�

LB:� The LB corps easily had its best game of the season.� Farrior had a rare, but good, bust-up of a pass on a deep seamer to Gonzo in the 2Q.� Haggans chipped in some.� Arnie Harrison had a stellar string out of an off-tackle run by LJ, and then slammed LJ for a 1-yard loss.�� My gawd -- this is a play Big Joey Porter hasn't made all season!� Not to be outdone, newly acquired Chad Brown bullrushed Jordan Black while fighting off a late chip block by the LG, Brian Waters, and then sacked the QB.� Again -- this is a play Big Joey hasn't made all season!� Rian Wallace jumped on a telegraphed out pass by Croyle and took the INT in for a TD.�� Hell, who needs Big Joey and his soon-to-be $5M per annum salary demands, when ya have Arnie, Wally, and Chad, not to mention Jamie Harrison�?��� Bye bye, Joey !!���� A.�

DB:� The secondary was far more active and competent than what we've seen in recent weeks.� The biggest news was the return, per se, of Troy Pola.�� Troy was a 1-man wrecking crew today, making plays all over the field.� On a critical 2Q 3d & 1, Troy knifed thru a tiny crease in the KC O-line and dropped LJ for a 2-yard loss.� He had an INT in the 2H and a bust-up of sorts (appeared he whiffed on the ball but distracted the receiver) on the 4th & goal pass in the 4Q.�� Pola even survived being tackled by LJ grabbing his hair on his INT return.� Town had a bust-up and a near INT on a key 3d & 6 in the 1Q.� McFadden overcame 2 PI flags by smothering Gardner on a lob in the EZ that fell incomplete.� He also made a nice catch on a deep ball for an INT.� Ike chipped in with 5 solos, though I still think he's being ordered to play too soft.��� B+.�

Spec teams:� Some goodness, though some lousiness as well.�� Holmes had good 24 and 21-yard PRs.� Clint had a good stick on KO coverage, and Logie had a good stop in punt coverage.�� Reed booted one FG.�� But then there was the dark side that so often pervades a Billy Cowher-coached ballclub.� The 1H KO coverage mostly sucked ass, giving up returns of 31 and 30 yards.� Ike Tay saved a TD on Webb's 30-yard KOR in the 2Q.� Holmes muffed a punt early in the 2Q that Ike recovered, and another in the 3Q that McFadden recovered.� Holmes should buy each man dinner all week for their saving recoveries.� Reed missed a chippie 28-yard FG in the 3Q.�� Overall, this unit was the down note of this game.�� C.�

OC:� 5 weeks into the season, and Cheezenhunt, duh-uh, finally gets Holmes involved in the offense !�� Hooray !� Perhaps in another 5 weeks, Heath Miller will be integrated as well.� Getting the ball to Holmes on the quick 1-step hitch, as well as the direct snap, should have happened 4 weeks ago.�� After all, that's presumably WHY the team drafted Holmes in round 1.� The pump-fake, then draw-fake PAP was a nice, clever set-up on the long TD pass to Nate.� Cheezen won't get to face defenses as soft as this one every week, but to his credit he aggressively took what he wanted.� A.

DC:� Dick was able to bottle up LJ and keep Gonzo (3 grabs, 15 yards) in check.�� Of course, keeping things in perspective, it's rather easy to defend an over-rated, shabby backup QB like Damon Huard, as well as playing defense with the 4-TD lead.��� B+.�

HC:� Backed against the wall, Cowhard had the team meet on Monday after their long flight from CA and he apparently ripped some ass in the process.� The team came out fired up and never relented until the game was well in hand in the 4Q.�� The key now is to avoid a letdown against the Falcons.��� A.�

Synopsis:� A superb, all around assbeating of the KC Chefs.�� With the Ratbirds and Bungals both losing, the Stillers are right back in the AFC North hunt.� The win is all the more better, as I have to attend an out of town business meeting this week along with a guy that is a big Chefs fan.� We made a bet last week�...the guy whose team loses, has to wear the ballcap of the winning team during this week's meetings.� I've gotten out the most hideous, garish Steelers cap I own�.and my buddy will be wearing it this week!�� LMAO !!�� And I'll be sure to rub salt into the wound by restating the 45-7 final score, over and over again !!� Enjoy the win�..and then gear up for a big game against the 1-dimensional Atlanta DirtyBirds.�

(Still Mill and Stillers.com -- when it comes to the analysis of the Pittsburgh Stillers, no one else comes close�.)