Stillers-Jets
Playoffs
Post Game Thoughts� by Steel
Cello
--- Just about the most ugly win possible, another game where the Steelers move the ball, play well for most of the game on defense, and keep it close with turnovers and special teams plays. It was 2001 all over again and I fully expected the same result. We got a gift from Doug Brien, and I hope we can make something of it.
---Well Ben, welcome to the playoffs. Aside from 4-5 really nice passes, Ben was doing a very good Kordell Stewart impression out there tonight, throwing weak, wobbly passes and showing definite indecisiveness. According to Ben's post game quotes, got a little greedy on the first pick intended for Randel El, and on the second pick, he thought Plax was going to take a deeper angle on his route. However, Ben was definitely flat-footed on the pick to Plax and I think it sailed on him. Either way, Ben took responsibility and you can't really be that surprised as he is a rookie. I still take him over Maddox next week, obviously. The guy has been a pretty quick study and you have to hope that 7 days will help him learn what not to do, etc.
----So much for the big return of Plax. I'm sure he helped stretch and field and allow Ward to get open more often, but I think we all expected a little more from the Roth-Plex combo tonight.
----I think we all saw again tonight why Duce was chosen as the starter. Despite several nifty runs by Bettis, Duce clearly has a larger repertoire of plays he can make, while also possessing just about the same amount of full steam power as Bettis, although he has rarely been given the opportunity to show it on goalline or 3/4th down situations this year. Staley was not yet 100% tonight and I hope that is the ONLY reason why he wasn't used more during the game. When he did come in, he make something out of nothing on several occasions, which bodes well for us if he can a little more healthier over the week.
---- Is Faneca a friggin monster or what? They went to their bread and butter man down the stretch and he delivered with some huge blocks for Bus and Staley. First team Pro Bowler walking the walk.
-----I'm still shocked that Bettis fumbled.
----You think Haggans wasn't paying attention to Harrison's performance while he was out? Great game
----Was that an all-world arm tackle by Troy against Martin? Wow.
---Was there one pass down the middle of the field. How about those TEs?
---Despite a crucial pass play to McCarins late in the game, Willie Williams continues to out-perform expectations. Good move keeping Scott as the nickel.
***
----Well Hackett-haters, its 3rd and 10 on the Jet's 41 yard line in Overtime. Probably the most important play of the game, and what is the play? A 2 -yard out pattern to Cherbet that is broken up by Haggans. Now I'm not sure where this was in Pennington's progressions, but he threw this pass pretty quick after the snap and I don't think he was about to get sacked or anything. I'm sure I'll be hearing about this one on NY Sports Talk Radio Monday morning.
---Another point of strategy by the Jets: They have the ball on the Steelers' 23 yard line with 6 seconds left in regulation. According to Herm Edwards, Santana Moss called Time Out when they wanted to run the clock down to 4 or 3 seconds so the FG attempt would be the last play of the game, etc. So what to the Jet's do? They run one more play to get the clock down a little bit. The problem is that Pennington takes a knee and loses about 1.5 yards in the process!! Now, maybe he was supposed to sneak it, etc, but I would rather risk a kickoff return for a TD (which the Steelers never pull off), than add 1.5 yards to a field goal over 40 yards in length, especially since its cold Heinz field, and Brien just came up short on a 47 yarder.
So the 41 yard attempt becomes a 43 yard attempt and he choked it. After the game Brien even admitted to the fact:..."The first one didn�t go far enough, and I tried to hit the second one too hard.� Maybe he doesn't try to hit it too hard from 41...
***
--- I guess if there was any doubt on the best defensive strategy to use against the Steelers, there can't be much now. Clearly whoever wins tomorrow, they will "make Ben win the game" as you have to assume that either Indy or the Pats can manage more than 3 offensive points and the Steelers will have to play mistake-free football.
--- Well I guess a win is a win, but man that was ugly! But who knows, they might rebound nicely next weekend as sometimes these types of games give the players the feeling like that have a new lease on life as I'm sure most of them thought that their season was over.
Go Pats...errr, I mean go Steelers!! =)
