Stillers-Browns Postgame Analysis and Grades

Stillers 10, Clev 6� ���. Sep 14, 2008 ����Game #2

 

Stillers-Browns Postgame Analysis and Grades

 

The Stillers ventured to hated Cleveland and weathered a storm, both literally and figuratively, by slogging out a hard-fought 10-6 win.� Amidst gusty winds and swirling rains, the Stillers held off the Browns under some tense moments in the 4th quarter to prevail for a huge victory.� �

 

Grades:

 

QB:� Ben completed 12 of 19 for 186 yards, which wasn�t shabby, given the weather conditions and his sore shoulder that severely limited his practice this past week.� He was also victimized by 2 drops by Hines.�� Ben made 2 huge pass plays in the 2H to help gain the win.� First, out of his own EZ, he calmly hit Ward for a 31-yard gain. Then, with just 3:16 remaining in the game, Ben rolled right and threw a bullet over the middle to Miller for a huge, game-sealing 19-yard completion.�

 

Ben wasn�t without a host of miscues, however.�� He double-clutched more than a teenager learning to drive a manual transmission for the first time, and it got him sacked unnecessarily.� It happened at 10:45 2Q, and then on the 1st drive of the 3Q.� While there are times where it is prudent to eat the ball and live for another play, sometimes an incomplete pass is better than a 7-yard loss and extra punishment.� �The clutching also happened on a deep ball to an open Parker, in which Roth foolishly double-clutched, thereby giving the safety plenty of time to get over and lay a big hit on Parker as the ball arrived.� �Ben was also gimpy on his hurry-up 3rd down sneak attempt early in the 2Q, in which he bobbled the snap and lost any chance of quick forward momentum.� The play was stuffed and the Stillers had to punt.�� Benji also just-missed an open Ward on a deep ball in the 4Q, which would have either scored 6 or at least put the ball deep in Clev territory.�

 

The dark cloud surround Benji was the very mysterious post-game interview on NBC-TV by Andrea Kramer.�� Ben was asked 3 times, quite pointedly, about his shoulder, and he side-stepped the question each time like a politician under a Congressional inquiry.�� Unless Ben was merely being a wiseass, this is disturbing.�� ���B

 

RB:� Parker had a very steady, strong, all-around effort, rushing 28 times for 105 yards.� While not gaudy stats, Parker had 2 huge, clutch runs to help win the game.� On a 4th & 1 in the 2Q, he bounced a play wide right and got 13 yards, and the Stillers scored their lone TD 4 plays later.� Then, late in the game, as the Stillers were trying to salt the game away, Parker gashed the Browns with a 19-yard run that essentially sealed the �W�.�

 

Sadly, Parker was totally non-involved in the passing game.� Yes, he was thrown the deep ball in the 1H, likely as an afterthought, but that was it.�� You see Darren Sproles take a quick flare to the house for a long TD, yet Parker is treated like a leper in the passing game.� Ever wonder why Parker is never mentioned with LT and others as the best back in the league?�� It�s because he plays in a Neanderthal offense that has no concept of simple, quick flips to a RB in open space.�

 

Speaking of leprosy, Shar Mendenhall must also have it, as he was never once lined up on offense, much less given the ball.� �����A

�

FB: Davis played sparingly.� Lined up as a solo back, he had 1 carry for 2 yards.���� Inc.

 

WR:� Tonio Holmes led the way with 5 grabs for 94 yards and several clutch plays.� On the Stillers� first 3rd down of the game, he had a clever push-off of a Clev DB, and snared the stop route for a 16-yard gain.� Later, he had a terrific pluck of a bullet over the middle, good for 15 yards.� In the 2H, he made a superb adjustment and leap on a deep ball, and hauled it in for a 48-yard gain.� He also had a strong run on an end-around, good for 10 yards.�

 

Ward had the lone TD, but had 2 critical drops.� Late in the 1Q, he dropped a crosser on 3d & 8.� In the 2Q, he dropped an easy TD, which went right thru his hands and off his chest.� To his credit, on the next play he hauled in the game�s lone TD.�

 

The extreme downside is that, for the 2nd week in a row, the Stillers got absolutely nothing from their #3 and #4 WRs.�� This was a disturbing trend last year, and it is no secret that, in today�s NFL, you cannot advance deep in the playoffs without a modicum of production from your 3 & 4 receivers.� ����B-

 

TE:� Miller had 2 grabs for 33 yards, including the clutch 19-yard near game�s end.� Despite the near-constant use of the 2 TE set, Speath has been written entirely out of the passing game.� The blocking was sporadic.� Miller, for example, got in Parker�s way on 1 of the 23 counters that the Stillers ran, this one being at 10:20 2Q.� Miller also got away with a possible hold on McGinnest on the 4th & 1 play that Parker bounced wide for 13 yards.� ���Miller was flagged for a hold on a running play early in the 3Q, thus killing that drive.� B-

 

OL: �Clev had spent considerable resources upgrading their D-line, and the Stillers� O-line had a real test.� For the most part, they passed that test.� Sure, there were a few sacks.� As noted above, two of them involved Benji doing more pumping and milking than a Dutch farmer.� On a 3rd & 2 in the 1Q, Arians refused to use a PAP, and the jailhouse rush got to Ben for a sack.� I cannot blame this kind of sack on the O-line.�

 

Hartwig struggled against Rogers.� In the 2Q, he weakly failed to hold his block, and then slipped, allowing Rogers to hammer Parker for a 2-yard loss. On the 2d play from scrimmage in the 3Q, Hart allowed Rogers to slice right by for a 2-yard loss.� Hartwig was also flagged for a hold on a Parker run in the 4Q.�

 

But the O-line, overall, got the job done.� Prior to a couple vanilla plunges to run out the clock, Parker gained 4 yards per rush.� Ben was given ample time to throw on the TD pass, as well as on the 31-yarder to Hines from the Steeler EZ.� Chris Kemo pulled and had a strong kickout block on Parker�s 19-yard run late in the game.� Anyone still bemoaning the departure of Crybaby Alan Faneca, please step forward.����� B

 

DL:� An okay, but hardly impressive, effort today.� Before bowing out to a calf injury late in the 1Q, Keisel was trucked by Lewis on a 3-yard run.� Kirschke had a rare stuff for a 2-yard loss.� Hampton was flattened on a 3d & 1 plunge at 5:00 3Q, but soon helped Harrison make a stop by blowing up a ground play.� Still, facing a mediocre journeyman like Hank Fraley, Hampton was very, very unimpressive.� Others, including the Pittsburgh media, certainly will, but I won�t fawn over abject mediocrity.��

 

Aaron Smith had a fairly strong game, playing stout in the running game and also having a key hit on Andy late in the game.�� Eason got a lot of PT with Keisel hobbled, and whiffed badly on an easy sack of the oafish, bootfooted Anderson in the 4Q.������ B

 

LB:� Some good, a lot bad.�� If LBing is the key to a great 3-4 defense, we�re looking at a train wreck.�

 

Foote had a solid stop of Lewis late in the 1Q.� That was about it.�� On the 4Q screen to Harrison, Foote -- totally unblocked -- came ranging over as upright as a giraffe, and then meekly waved at Harrison as the backup RB sauntered for a 23-yard gainer.�� This was horseshit technique that I wouldn�t tolerate from an 8th grader, much less a supposed starting NFL LB. ��Foote was also pathetically slow in coverage on Lewis in the 4Q, which led to a 9-yard gain. �If you can�t cover a broken-down Jamaal Lewis at this point of his career, you can�t cover a picnic table with a tarp and you have no business starting in the NFL. ��

 

Farrior wasn�t much better.� He had a good read and fill on the Lewis off-tackle plunge in the 1Q, limiting Lew to a meager yard.� But, lined up as an extra OLB on a key 3d & 4 in the 2Q, he failed to read the end-around to Cribbs and then failed to shed the block and provide any help, thereby allowing Cribbs an easy 5 yards. �In the 4Q, Farrior was utterly hideous.� First, he was flagged for a 15-yard taunting penalty, which is absolutely inexcusable for a defensive captain and supposed �team leader�.� �Taunting penalties are asinine stupidity at its worst, but its even far worse when a veteran leader does something as assaholic as that.� On the very next play, Farrior feebly whiffed on Lewis after a valve dump, allowing what should have been a no-gain to be a 5-yard gainer.� Later in the 4Q, Farrior was trucked by Lewis for a 4-yard gain.� �

 

Woodley tailed off a bit after his big opening week.� His pass rushing was sporadic and he wasn�t able to create much havoc.�� Wood was also flagged for a key roughing-the-passer penalty in the 3Q, although it was a bullshit flag.�� This was a bang-bang play, with Woodley hitting and wrapping the QB -- as he is supposed to do -- a millisecond after the pass was released.� Later in the game, The Little Baby, Shaun Rogers, took 2 steps well after Ben had released a pass in the 4Q and then put an absurdly deliberate shoulder into Ben, knocking him to the turf without a flag.� �I have no problem with Woodley on this play and I hope the coaching staff encourages him to do the same technique at every opportunity.�

 

Harrison had a strong overall game.� He had a big hit and stuff of Lew in the 3Q, and created the pressure that allowed Smith to drop Andy near game�s end.� Jamie was fired up from start to finish and led the way in terms of intensity and effectiveness.��

 

Timmons, sadly enough, saw infrequent playing time.� �Even though Foote continues to flounder in open field, unless an injury occurs, Timmons will not be permitted in the starting lineup until, at best, 2010.�� �ILBs:� C-����� ��Wood:� B-���� Harrison:�� A-

 

DB:� A rather lackluster overall performance.� Facing a team hit by injury at the receiver spot and on a gusty, rainy evening, the secondary nevertheless allowed Clev receivers to roam as free as the lion on the African frontier. �A plethora of easy drops by Edwards and Winslow negated considerable yardage from the Clev passing offense.�

 

Pola had a pretty strong game.� He led off the game by blowing up the first play, slicing into the backfield and fighting a blocker to blow up the play.� He had good, tight coverage on Winslow on a 3D play early on, forcing the incompletion.� He had a superb read on the INT late in the 1H, which snuffed what would have been an chippie FG.� He also had a crisp stop of Winslow early in the 3Q, just short of the sticks, which forced a punt.� He had a good bustup of a 4Q 3rd down pass, but the ball caromed up in the air and Winslow was able to out jump the shorter Pola for the grab.�

 

McFadden started in place of the injured Townsend.� He had a gift INT in the 2Q, catching a badly under thrown deep ball.� This was a bit of a lazy play, as he never left his feet to go up and haul this one in, but at least he didn�t drop it.� He gave up massive cushion on a 3d & 7 in the 4Q, allowing an easy 9-yard catch.� But to his credit, on the following 3d & 7, he held his ground much firmer on Edwards, and had positioning on the slant route, which was busted up and forced the FG attempt.� He was also flagged for an illegal contact penalty in the 2Q, which was utter bullshit.� Winslow made contact on McFadd, and even tugged on McFadd�s facemask, yet somehow the CB was flagged.� Unreal.�

 

Ike was solid in run support, but gave up more cushion than a sofa factory.� Not overly impressive at all.�

 

Clark delivered a couple big hits.� He had a bust-up of a crosser late in the 1Q, and then separated Edwards from the ball around the Pit 4-yard line with a blistering hit that left both men a bit woozy.�

 

Overall, this unit is going to have to play much better against a better passing team.���� B-

 

Spec teams:� A couple near-disasters, but overall a positive day from this crew. �Reed boomed a couple KOs for TBs.� The KO and punt coverage teams, facing the dangerous Cribbs, were outstanding.� Helping lead the way was none other than starting OLB Jamie Harrison, who either made or was in on 2 or 3 coverage stops. �Amidst the wind and rain, Reed nailed a huge 48-yard FG in the 3Q.� Given the tight game and the weather conditions, this was as clutch of a FG as can be made in the NFL.��

 

The return teams gave everyone some high adventure.� With the winds pushing punts to & fro, Moore nearly touched a punt as it sailed down to earth, but luckily he pulled his hands back far enough.� Had the ball nicked one of his fingers, Clev would have gotten the ball deep in Pit territory.� Then, Mendenhall misplayed a KO, of all things, in the 3Q, and Davis added insult to injury when he tripped Mendenhall after the ball landed.� Mega kudos to Woodley, who had the presence and the hustle to get back and then dive for the loose ball, which luckily slithered OOB at the 2 to avoid a colossal disaster.���� B

 

OC:� The weather conditions certainly wreaked havoc on using a full array of the passing game.� Still, it was bizarre to open the game with 2 straight bubble screens, especially against a defense missing its starting safety amidst an otherwise weak secondary.� Then, on a 3rd & 2 on the first drive, Arians, who still has little clue as to what to do on 3rd & short, refuses to at least run a play-fake, and just like last week, the jailhouse rush got to the QB for a sack.�

 

Conversely, near game�s end, when we all were expecting a repeat of last year�s playoff fiasco versus Jax (with a host of weak-assed plunging), Arians called a boot right on SECOND down (not third), which Ben, with eons of time and room, hit Miller for 19 yards to seal the deal.� This was a brilliant, albeit obvious playcall, as it gave Ben the opportunity to run for a few yards if need be (and keep the clock moving), and it gave him some options against a weak Clev secondary.��

 

What is enraging me is the chickenshit Wannstedt/Cavanaugh rotting of rookie Shar Mendenhall, who not only didn�t touch the ball on offense the entire game, but never even entered the game on offense the entire game.� I find it almost impossible to believe that this offense would give Carey Davis -- a blocking FB -- a carry out of a 1-back set for a meager 2-yard gain, yet refused to allow Mendenhall to participate on offense after a solid showing last week in his rookie debut.�� RB is, by far, the easiest position in pro football for rookies to step in and contribute.� As we found out last season, Parker is not going to hold up the entire season by toting the ball 28 times a game.� Mendenhall was drafted in the 1st round to ease the load and give this offense a spark with his size and speed.�� Unless he missed a team meeting or violated some team rule, this is outrageous stupidity at its worst.�� �B-

 

DC:� LeBeau once again lucked into another notch in his belt.� The weather conditions bogged down the Clev offense, and Clev�s gross mismanagement of the clock, combined with a strange decision to boot a meaningless FG late in the 4Q, let Dick off the hook.�� He defense got carved up 3rd downs, allowing 7 of 15, notwithstanding a drop or 2.� The pass pressure was feeble and far too meager.�� Andy was entirely too comfortable in the pocket, and until the last minute of the game, took almost no punishment whatsoever.� If this is the best LeBeau can do, it�s far from good enough.����� C

 

HC:� Tomlin had the team decently prepared, and the team showed good toughness in a hostile atmosphere.�� There were some sloppy penalties (encroachment on a punt; Farrior�s taunting; holding twice on running plays) that need to be cleaned up.�� I�ll also reiterate my tirade here about the chickenshit Wannstedt/Cavanaugh rotting of rookie Shar Mendenhall.�� INEXCUSABLE, and Tomlin deserves as much, if not more, blame than Arians.�� I also wasn�t pleased with Tomlin�s TO as Ben was drawing the Clev defense offsides on a 4th & 1 in the 2Q.�

 

Beating Clev on the road is always good, although Tommy won�t always have the luxury of facing a dummy like The CrennElephant.� ������B

 

Synopsis:� An ugly, but effective, win.� Winning on the road against a bitter, hated rival is rarely ever easy, and the Stillers showed some good moxie and fortitude in grinding out this win.�� Obviously, numerous warts arose during this game that must quickly be addressed.� The pass rush was meek and feeble.� There is no production at all from the #3 or #4 WRs, and the Steelers have to be the only team in the NFL that has zero receptions among its top 3 RBs.�� �The road doesn�t get any easier next week, with the Stillers traveling to Philly to take on the Iggles.� Hopefully the Cowpokes will beat them up pretty good on MNF and the short week will hamper the Iggles� preparation.�

 

 

(Still Mill and Stillers.com -- when it comes to the analysis of the Pittsburgh Stillers, no one else comes close�.)