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Hard Hat Award (Game #16, @ Buff)
The Stillers offensive line is the winner of the 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.
Facing the playoff desperate Bills, with the Stiller offense using a backup QB, a never-used 3rd-string QB, backup receivers, and a seldom-used 4th-string RB, the O-line carried the day, mauling the Bills defense en route to a 29-24 victory.��
The line, which included efforts from a few backups as well, paved the way for a very successful Stiller ground game.� The line also gave Maddox time to pass; the 2 sacks of Maddox were simply the result of The Human Statue getting snagged by the Bills' defense.� The epitome of the line's domination was the 13-play FG march in the 4Q, when the Bills knew that St. Pierre was never going to be allowed to fire the ball, yet were incapable of stopping the Stiller ground game, which chewed up nearly 9 minutes of clock.� When you can jam the ball down an opponent's throat when he fully know you're gonna run the ball, then that's smashmouth football at its best.� This is precisely the way the offensive line position is supposed to be played.� The O-line has had several Hard Hat-eligible efforts this season, but one player always seemed to nudge out the O-line in the eyes of The Committee.� After the 15th win of the season, the O-line finally reaps the rewards of their hard work, winning the final Hard Hat of the regular season.�
Kudos to
Past 2004 Winners:
Week 1, vs. Oak: Casey Hampton and Clark Haggans
Week 2, @ Balt: No one
Week 3, vs.
Week 4, vs. Cinci:�
Ben Roth and
Week 5, vs. Clev: Ben Roethlisberger
Week 6, @
Week 7, vs.
Week 8, vs. Phil: James Farrior
Week 9, @ Clev:�
James Harrison
Week 10, @ Cinci: Jerome Bettis
Week 11, vs.
Week 12, @ Jax: Ben Roethlisberger
Week 13, vs. NYJ: James Farrior
Week 14, vs. NYG: Antwaan Randle El
Week 15, vs. Balt: Jamie Harrison
(Note: Stillers.com will pay tribute to Justin Strzelczyk, who
epitomized the very nature of The Hard Hat, by placing "73" on the
Hard Hat each week during the season.)�