Steelers win first
Steelers Win First
The Steelers won their first game of the year Sunday by the skin of their teeth.
Perhaps it was more the fact that the Cleveland Browns are snake-bit in late game situations the past two seasons rather than it was
a resurgence in the Steeler machine. Despite the comeback win last week against the Titans, the Browns have screwed up
more than any other team in recent history when the game has been on the line. Afterall, they are the Browns.
Still, credit must be given to the Steeler defense that played well enough to win and came up with stops when
necessary: Observations from win number one:
In one of the best in-game coaching moves Bill Cowher has ever made, Kordell was benched in favor of Tommy Maddox. The
Grinch showed true courage in making this move - It may have saved the season for Pittsburgh not to mention Cower's job. Kudos
to Bill Cowher for recognizing a change needed to be made and for having a sense of urgency when he could have let Stewart back in.
Kordell Stewart was ineffective at QB. He did not play poorly, but he simply can't produce and there seems to be no
"Slash" in Stewart anymore. It is not that the Steelers refuse to use Stewart as "Slash", it is because Stewart is not the same
exciting and elusive player he was when he first started. His ability to run has slowly diminished over the past few seasons and
really offers little upside to the Steeler offense when he is the QB. He can run some, but the days of Kordell tip-toeing down the sidelines
for a TD are over. Since this true, Stewart should be evaluated only on his ability to pass the ball and move his team
down the field through the air.
After intercepting Stewart in the end-zone, the Browns needed to mount a drive to ice the game. The D wouldn't allow it. The D,
once again lead by Joey Porter, played well for most of the game.
After intercepting Maddox in OT, the Browns went fatally conservative and failed to improve their field position. Credit the D, but the Browns didn't
even try to throw the ball downfield. One first down could have meant a 25 yarder for the game and a death grip on the AFC North division title.
True to their nature, the Browns choked and let the Steelers back in the game.
The TD pass to Burress was behind him. If the Browns CB didn't fall asleep on this play, it might have been an interception going the other
way and a swift end to the starting QB aspirations of Tommy Maddox.
Maddox seems to favor Burress while Stewart hones in on Hines Ward on almost every play. If Maddox does get the eventual starting job
at QB, Ward's production will suffer, but the Steelers will be a much better football team.
Bettis was slow and enfeebled all day by the shear girth of his waistline. There were 4 or 5 times when Bettis could have cut to his left into
a gaping hole, but he either was unable to make the cuts or he just didn't see them. Make no mistake, once Bettis retires from football, he will explode into a large
human being. The problem is, he considered retirement this spring and that translated into poor off-season habits that have put Jerome in a huge hole. He may
never be the same again - the old Jerome would have both seen the gaping holes and made the cuts to spring into the secondary.
Kordell Stewart will not be in Pittsburgh next year. Regardless of what happens the rest of the year how can the FO think about
resigning/restructuring Stewart's contract to avoid a huge cap hit? Stewart has been very inconsistent and his talents are not exceptional.
The Steeler FO was conscious of this heading into the season and wanted more proof that Stewart was for real - that is why, despite reports
to the contrary, the Steelers were not trying to restructure his contract. Since he will not be resigned, letting Stewart go after this season will
allow the Steelres to save about $5 million against the cap.
Charlie Batch could quite easily be the starter for the 2003 Steeler football season.
According to Cowher, no decision has been made about who will start next week at QB. Cowher knows in his mind it should be Maddox, but his heart
tells him to stick with Stewart. Cowher's heart often rules his mind which is fine, but the Steelers need definite direction and stability at QB.
Regardless of who starts next week, the Steelers need to keep winning and need to develop chemistry with
whomever is their chosen leader. That choice needs to made now and that choice must be final.