Several Stillers
Win Weekly Hard Hat Award (Divisional Playoffs, vs. Balt.)
Several
Stillers are the co-winners 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.
Because
success in the playoffs is predicated upon players turning up the intensity and
tenacity a couple notches, the committee felt it best to give out Hard
Hats to several very deserving players.�� (The committee was also getting nowhere in its deliberations,
other than consuming precious stockages of Iron City that need to last all the
way until the morning of Feb. 4th.)�� These
deserving players include:
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QB Kordell Stewart, who played inspired football the entire game.�� Stewart was continually called upon to
carry the ball on designed draws and keepers, and he ran with the toughness,
guts, and determination that you'd expect to see from a burly fullback.�� Just as impressively was the tenacious lead
block Stew put on De/LB Peter Boulware on the "confusion play".� Stewart blocked Boulware so feverishly and
diligently that Boulware became frustrated and wrenched Stew's facemask, giving
the Stillers an extra 15 yards on the play.���
Other than perhaps Kurt Warner, no QB in the NFL this season has shown
the sheer physical toughness of Kordell Stewart.
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RB Amoz Zereoue, who gained only 63 yards, but got most of that yardage on
tough runs, second effort, and determined slashing and lunging.�� Amoz also had an outstanding effort on one
of the screens that he caught, turning what looked to� be a short gainer into a 13 yard gain, thanks to a sequence of
juke, spin, and plow.�� Amoz scored two
TDs, the first on some hard running and second effort, and the second on a
vault over the stack at the goal line.
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WR Hines Ward, who once again had an all-around gritty, bulldog effort.�� Ward threw blocks whenever he could,
including the one on Shaw's 14-yard gain and a good one on Edwards' run during
the confusion play.�� Ward also
recovered two fumbles, alertly diving on Troy's fumble and scrambling into the
pile to recover a 4th quarter fumble.�� Ward
made two tough catches in which he took punishing hits, but still held on.� And Hines had one carry while lined up in
the backfield in a SG formation, in which he gained 6 yards.�� �
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OLB Joey Porter, who played like a possessed demon, or at least like a man who
was earning a $10,000 bounty every time he smacked a ballcarrier or QB.�� Porter set the tone early with a hell-bent somersault
over a cut block, and then crashed into the QB, forcing a quail-like pass that
was easily picked off.��� A la' Greg
Lloyd, Porter hungrily came from the back side several times to hamper, or
stop, running plays.��
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ILB Kendrell Bell, who had 4 solos in leading the total shut-down of the
Ravens' "resurgent running game".��
Bell also forced a critical INT in the EZ, when he fought through a
blatant tackle by the guard (who was flagged for holding), and then barreled into
the QB as he released the pass.��� �
This
kind of hard-nosed play from these 5 players is what the Hard Hat
is all about, and is what makes the Hard Hat Award the coveted award that it
is.
Kudos
to Kordell, Amos, Hines, Joey, and Kendrell for winning the weekly Hard
Hat Award. �Wear the Hard Hat proudly,
men !!
Previous
Winners:
Week
16, vs. Clev: Kendrell Bell and Clark Haggans
Week
15, @ Cinci: Earl Holmes
Week
14, vs. Detroit: Chris Fuamatu-Ma�afala
Week
13, @ Balt: Amos Zereoue
Week
12, vs. NY Jets: Hines Ward
Week
11, vs. Minnesota: Troy Edwards
Week
10, @ Tenn: Kordell Stewart
Week
9, vs. Jax: Joey Porter and Kendrell Bell
Week
8, @ Clev: Jerome Bettis
Week
7, vs. Balt: Oliver Ross
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