Some Random Thoughts:
STILLERS:
- COACHING:� As much as I criticize
Coach Cowher, he had the Stillers ready to play and we are 4-1 now.� I question him using Bettis at the end
of the game and I question him not putting the nail into the coffin in the
3rd quarter.� Bill had
the team ready today.� We let the
Browns get far to close and we can�t do that against better teams.
- DUCE.� Ran for another 100 yard
game, three in a row, which is a first for Duce.� He ran hard and the line helped him out.� I think he needs to concentrate on
holding the ball though.� He did
not fumble today but if you look at the tapes, he was pretty close to it
on a few carries.
- LINE:� What we considered our
Achilles heel, the line is playing very consistent.� Even Ross.� Nice punch Ross.� The
officials were generous.
- BIG BEN:� I�ve admitted before that
I thought we should have drafted Rivers.�
My error.� Big Ben is the
real deal.� He is confident and
shows poise.� The announcers were
idiots saying that it is difficult for a rookie to go into the
shotgun.� If they had done some
simple research, they would know Ben played most of his time at Miami (OH)
in the shotgun.� He is comfortable
there.�� Ben, for the first time
this season, hit all four WRs.� My
only complaint is the offensive scheme doesn�t include the TEs or backs
out of the backfield.� Ben hit
Haynes for �1 yards but Haynes, Duce or a TE can be a great escape valve
and productive scheme.� Ben could
win rookie of the week again for the 3rd week in a row.� I haven�t been this excited for a new
Stiller QB since Bradshaw.� He
played a very, next to perfect game.�
He needs to settle down, but he is on his way!!!!!!
- PLAX:� Had a great game today and
does seem to be comfortable with Ben.�
He was over 100 yards today.
- DA BUS:� As one of the few Bettis
supporters on this site, Bettis is done.�
He is not the future, Haynes is.�
Give Haynes the garbage time.�
I agree with the decision to take out Duce at the end of the game
due to his injury.� I question the
replacement.� Haynes has the same or
more value added than Bettis.�
Other than fantasy football fanatics, Bettis does not have the
value added any longer.� He can�t
sustain a drive and is an easy mark.
- SECONDARY:� Scott needs to be
fired.� PERIOD.� Hope still remains a hitter.� I�ll take a penalty or two but Hope is
a headhunter and that is Stiller Defense!�
The Stillers lead the AFC in takeaways but we could be more
dominant if we would hold on to the opportunities.� Troy had an easy takeaway and dropped
it.� I�m still not convinced that
our secondary is ready to play and perform against the Tier I teams.
- DEFENSE:� We are still giving up too
much on the run.� We ran a lot of
packages today and looked decent.
- SPEC TEAMS:� IMO,
solid effort.� Reed and Gardocki
kicked well.� Decent returns as well.
BROWNS:� I have two comments:
�
Garcia is the heart of
their team.� He kept the game closer
that it really was.� I hate the Browns,
but if you are a football fan, you must appreciate Garcia�s efforts.
�
Butch Davis is the
NFL�s biggest whiner.
OVERALL: �Any win over
the Browns or Division rival is great.�
I do wonder if we are a great 4-1 team or a lucky 4-1 team.� The win today was the best chance for the
Stillers to put a team away and we kind of did that.� The Stillers played good football today but we start cranking up
our schedule strength with Dallas, Philly and New England.� The Giants are now 4-1 and the Jets are
likely to beat the Bills today. We�ve played the sick, wounded and lazy thus
far.� I�m happy as hell we are 4-1 but
if I had to sum up my worries in one single word, it would be SECONDARY.