Stillers 13, Ravens� 10 ���. Nov. 5, 2010 ����Game # 12
Stillers-Ravens Postgame
Analysis and Grades
The
Stillers tangled with the hated PoeBirds, and just as
expected, it was another nip and tuck game decided in the waning minutes of the
4Q.� Isaac �Red Zone �
Redman� scored on an improbable
10-yard TD catch & run, and the Stiller D barely hung on to preserve the
lead.�� The Stillers managed to overcome
gross incompetence by both coordinators to win their 9th of the season and
seize command of the AFC North.�
Due to the
late-nite ending of this game, this report will be
shorter and more succinct that usual.�
Grades:
QB:�
Benji started, with a boot-like shoe on his foot due to the broken
bone.� To add salt to the wound, he was
FOREARMED in the face on the 1st series, resulting in a broken nose.��
Ben was
understandably slow and tentative thereafter, overthrowing a bomb to Wally and
twice missing a wide open Miller.�� His
INT was an overthrown bomb to Brown.�
Ben warmed
up in the 2H.�� On the final play of the
3Q, it was vintage Ben, eluding a blitzing DB and scrambling right, and then
hitting Sanders for 28 yards.�� He then
saved the game, when on 1st & G at the 10, he
fought off Suggs --- literally toe to toe -- and managed to lunge-pitch the
ball for a sack-saving TA.�
It wasn�t
pretty, but it was a gritty effort by Ben.��
B+
RB:�
Mendy had a workmanlike 45 yards on 19 carries.�� The going was obviously tough sledding.� Mendy enraged me on a 2d & 1 in the 3Q,
when he found little room and tried to dance wide, losing 3 yards.�� In this situation, against this defense, you
simply have to put your head DOWN and burrow for what ya
can.�� Soon later, he dropped a
dumpoff.��
Redman had
a nice RAC in the 1Q on 3d & 8, gaining 14 yards before being cheap-shotted OOB and injuring an ankle.� He came back, though, and had the big TD,
when he shrugged off 2 tackles after a short slant and spun into the EZ for the
TD.���� Hey, here�s an idea for Tomlin --
let�s CUT Redman !!���
Redman:� A����
Mendy and
FB: Seldom used.�� Inc.�
WR:�
Wally led the way with 5 for 76.��
He put on a superb move on a 0-step hitch, jetting for 23 yards.�
Ward had a
long nite.�� He
had 1 measly grab, for 13.� He dropped a CAKE-easy
curl -- with the DB on the ground from slipping -- late in the 2Q, on a
3d & 10 that would have netted at least 17 yards, if not more.�� Instead of a chippie FG or a TD attempt, we
punted.�� He also ran into Johnson on a
crossing pattern in the 4Q.�
Sanders
dropped a tough grab on 3d & 7 in the 3Q.�
He did have a great grab later on 3d & 11, snaring a low flag for 28
yards.� He should have
gotten up at the 2 and gone into the EZ, but like a dumbass
just laid there on the turf.��
(Supposedly Reed touched him, but I disagree, as Reed vaulted OVER
him.��� You never quit on this kind of
play; you make the refs blow their whistles 30 times.)��
Brown had 3
grabs for 26.������ B�
TE:�
Miller was ignored after the early misfires, and finally caught his 1st
pass at 7:00 3Q.�� Later in the 3Q, he
was cheap-shotted after an inc. pass and leveled in
the face, causing a concussion.��
Johnson had
good 2d & 3rd effort on a 25-yard gainer, plowing and bulling for extra
yardage.��� Johnson struggled at times in
run blocking.��
Thankfully,
Spaeth did not dress.����� B��
OL: The line got eaten up for most of
the game.��� Just eaten
alive too many times to recount.�
Foster
slogged about like a 3-leged donkey.���
He continually got used and abused by Ngata.��� He also had a false start.��� Scott got ravaged and eaten alive by
Suggs.��� At this point, I just don�t see
how
Pouncey had
some good blocks, but then got wheeled back to the QB by Ngata
on 3d & 13 in the 4Q.�� He was also
bowled over by Suggs on a sack in the 2Q.��
Pounce had a key fumble recovery.��
Kemo wasn�t as awful as he usually is, and had an alert fumble recovery
and solid run thereafter (hilarious looking run, I might add.)�
Essex
relieved an injured
DL:�
The line jammed up Gay Rice, who gained only 32 yards on 9 rushes.�� Hood had a coverage sack in the 1st
series.��� Yancey Keisel finally returned
and had a batted pass.� FatAss Hampton did little.�������� B��
LB:�
Leading the way, as usual, was
Taunto
Farrior had some adequate contributions.��
He should have been given a HALF sack late in the 4Q, with
Timmons was
somewhat quiet, with few big plays or hits.��
Of course, part of the problem is that he�s being REMOVED from the game
in the dime defense, thanks to a simpleton of a def. coordinator.��� He did have 4 solos and 2 As.��
Sucking ass,
once again, was Jason Woodley, who did very, very little the entire game.�� It was nice to see Chris Ballinsworth
spotlight Jason Woodley and show what a complete FRAUD this stiff is, what with
Jason Worilds, as usual, was not permitted to play on D.�
DB:�
Getting roasted and embarrassed on national TV was Bryant McFadden, who
had a totally wretched, ghastly game.��
You�d have to go way back to the days of Deon Figures or DeWayne Washington to find a game played this poorly by a
Steeler QB.��� 2 PI flags, 1 TD given up,
and 1 deep ball for 67 yards, pretty much sums up this vomit-laden effort.� On the TD, he simply stopped and GAVE UP on coverage
of Boldin.��
The 2nd PI was just a dumbassed penalty to
take, as he shoved Mason as the ball sailed well over.�� On the deep ball to Stallworth,
McFadden, the idiot, jumped onto the slot WR, leaving Stallworth
ALL ALONE to roam down the sidelines for the 67-yard gainer.�� Exactly how fuking
stupid is this guy ???��
Ryan Clark
wasn�t much better.�� Lined up in the
slot on 3d & 15, he got totally ABUSED on a deep route by Boldin, good for 61 yards.��
Late in the game, McFadden had a chance for an INT, but
Pola had a
couple big plays.��� He slashed in on a
run blitz in the 1D for a -4 loss.�� Late
in the game, he again slashed in and chopped Jacco�s
arm to force the key fumble.��
Ike had a
decent game.�� He was flagged for an
illegal contact.��� Gay started to get
picked on late, giving up 2 easy grabs late in the game.������� B-
Spec
teams:� The coverage teams mostly sucked
well-water.�� Really
horrid.�� Sanders made the lone
good stop, swooping in with speed to nail the KO returner at the 16.��
Sepul had
a poor pooch punt in the 1Q, hitting at the 1 and going into the EZ.�� Thanx to atrocious
punt coverage, he had to make a tackle on a 35-yard punt return and tore his ACL
in his non-kicking leg.��� I�m sure
Colbert will have Mitch Berger signed by Monday afternoon.��
The number
and frequency of dumbassed, assaholic,
unforced penalties on spec teams is unreal.��
Brown went offsides on a kickoff.��
Keen Lewis ran OOB on punt coverage and was flagged.�� These are brainless, assaholic
penalties you can live with .....on a team comprised
of 7th graders.�� It�s absolute horseshit
that these kind of flags are occurring 12 games into
the season on a team comprised of supposedly elite professionals.�� Worilds got into
the act by holding on a Steeler punt, as did Allen on an earlier punt.�
Brown had a
solid punt return.� Suisham
took forever to get off his punts, but he filled in adequately in place of Sepul.�� He also
nailed a 45-yard FG, along with a 19-yarder.����
C-
OC:��
Sharing a building with Dave Wannstedt has had
ill effects on Airhead Arians.� His gameplan was as bland, dull, and dim-bulbed
as a pre-school coloring book.�� RB
screens?�� NONE.��� Quick pop passes to Miller?��� NONE.���� Mis-direction
attempts against a rabidly over-pursuing defense?�� NONE.���
The bland
stupidity got so bad that on a long 3Q drive, Arians was given the GOLDEN
opportunities of three consecutive 2d & 1�s.��� What did he do?��� A vanilla LINE PLUNGE
every single time, getting the 1st down exactly ONE time.���� Deep stab?�� NONE.���� Play-action pass?�� NONE.� Something clever beyond a
1930�s era plunge?�� NONE.����
Then, to
start the 4Q, Arians had 1st & goal on the 2:
����������� 1D, 33 run,� -2
����������� 2D, 34 run,� -1
����������� 3 & G on the 5,� 0-step hitch to Wally, 3 yards.��� What in the fuck ?????!!!���� A 0-step hitch from the
FIVE fuking yard line??�� Are you fuking
kidding me ???��
What a stupidfuk !�� This has to be 1
of the blandest, most retarded drives since Dave Wannstedt
started his head coaching career.���
Other
points:�
� - On the 2Q INT on the deep ball to
Brown.....TWO Steelers (Brown & Wally) were within 4 yards of each other on
this deep ball.� Why?�� Stupid football.�
� - On obvious passing downs, David Johnson was
not only kept in the game, but he out in the pattern?!�� Why ???�� You have Ward, Wally, Sanders, Brown, and
Randle El, along with Redman,
DC:�
You�ll hear the usual fawning and adulation over Dick, what with the PoeBirds held to 10 points.��� Fact is, they
could have easily been held to ZERO points.��� A mediocre offense to begin with, the
Ravens lost Todd Heap on the FIRST play from scrimmage, and lost Steeler-killer
Derrick Mason for a large chunk of the game.���
LT Mike Ohrer was coming off a sprained knee
sustained in last week�s game.��
The Ravens
lone TD was a 97-yard march (92, plus a 5-yard flag set them back to their own
3).�� Here�s Dick, with a chance to obtain
golden FP off a punt, on a 3d & 15 on the Balt.
3.�� Like the moron that he is, he
blitzes Pola up the GUT, where there is enormous congestion, plus the blitz
pickup is EASY AS PIE.�� What happened?�� Pola gets picked up EASY AS PIE.�� Worse, Dick has Ryan Clark -- the slowest
safety in the NFL -- up in press coverage on the slot WR, Boldin.� The former Card blew past
The drive
could have stalled, however, but Dick once again went soft, and on 3d & 10,
Jacco has ALL DAY to hit Dickson for 11 yards.�
Then, a short while later, Jacco
hit Boldin for the TD.�� They replayed that play on nat'l TV, with a stopwatch.�� Facing a weak-ssd
4MR, Jacco had 7.04
seconds to get this pass off, which is an ETERNITY.� ��Soft,
no-brained defense with ZERO pass pressure against a QB well KNOWN for choking
under pass pressure.��� Brilliant !!
I also loved the brilliant idea of having gimpy-hamstring
Yancey Keisel try to cover the TE, Dickson, on a 3d & 9 in the 1Q.�� Luckily for us, Dickson DROPPED the ball on
an up route that what would have been a hefty 20-yard gainer.�� Gotta love the brilliancy, though, in having an oafish, 32-year old DE,
coming off weeks of inactivity with a hamstring injury, covering a TE down the field.�� Utterly brilliant!!��
The softness in pass rush -- with a pussyfied
4-man rush (4MR) -- was again appalling.���
Some other examples, besides the ones above� --
� - 3d & 6, 4MR,
deep ball to Stallworth, 67 yards.�� No heat, no harassment, no pressure.
� - 3 & 10, 3Q,
4MR, easy comp. to Mason for 16.� This
keyed the Raven FG drive.��� Again, no heat, no harassment, no pressure.
The Almighty One also benefited from the Stiller
offense chewing the clock, as PIT had the TOP advantage, 33:35 to 25:52.
Lastly, the removal of Larry Timmons in the dime defense is
simply asinine stupidity at its worst.��
If a LB needs removed, it should either be Farrior or Woodley, not your
fastest, most athletic LB who has been lights out all year long.��� Removing an all-around GREAT LB who is
having an awesome season is nothing short of sabotage.��
Fawn and adulate all ya want over
The Almighty One, Dick LeBeau.��� Just
don't let facts and what happens on the field obstruct your view while you revel
and glory over past accomplishments garnered years ago.������ D+�
HC:� Tomlin
continues to un-impress with ostrich-like management and leadership.�� Yes, it was good the team overcame
adversity.�� However, the best way to
overcome adversity is to AVOID it in the first place.�� Stupid penalties, brainless schemes, sloppy
mistakes (dropped passes, drifting away from assigned receivers, etc.) seem to
perpetuate themselves with no correction and no accountability.��� C+��
Officiating.��� I don�t often rant about officials, but I
am again forced to, due to outrageous incompetence and inconsistencies.��
�� - On the 1st
series, Ben is belted in the FACE, not once, but TWICE, on the SAME play by Hloti Ngata while back in the
pocket.�� No flag.�� Ben gets his nose BROKEN on this play, but
with multiple refs watching the play, NO flag is thrown for an obvious illegal
blow to the head.��
�� - On a 2Q play, Ben
got blasted by Landry into the turf well after releasing a pass.�� No flag.�
�� -� After an inc. pass, Miller is drilled in the
HEAD, as a DEFENSELESS receiver, and is knocked unconscious.� NO FLAG.��
After all the bullshit flags and fines on James Harrison, this kind of hit
goes unpunished ????���� Where in Sam Fuking
hell was the flag on this play ??��
�� -�� On
the late 1st & goal at the 10, Ben's helmet was FORCIBLY GRABBED by Suggs.
This is called FACEMASKING; as ANY part of the helmet that is grabbed is, by
the RULEBOOK,
a facemasking penalty.� How 3 or 4 refs could MISS this in the WIDE
OPEN space of the backfield is simply unreal and inexcusable.��
�� - On a late punt, I thought Fred Reed
signaled for a FC.�� The punt landed, and
rolled to about the 3, where he then grabbed the ball.� Fox made the immediate stop, but if Reed did
call the FC and no one from PIT touched the ball, then this is an obvious
penalty.�� (I messed up my Tivo recording, so I can�t re-check this play.)
��� - The only positive thing to say about this
crew, is that they finally cracked down on Mike Ohrer�s BLATANT cheating.�
In the previous meeting, Ohrer continually
kicked his back leg backwards a split second before the snap, but was NEVER
called.� He got whistled for it twice tonite, and obviously had to adjust his cheating due to the
closer scrutiny.�
�����������
Fuck Roger Goodell.�� Fuck Ray
Anderson.��� F
Synopsis:�
It�s hard to win on the road in the NFL.�
It�s even harder when both coordinators are complete fuking
retards, thereby inhibiting the team and pretty much removing a a majority of chance of
victory.� It�s simply amazing that this
team was able to cobble together this win, against all odds.�� Up next, the Bungals, and the Stillers
cannot afford a letdown in this divisional game, lest they allow the Ravens to
crawl back into race for the division title. ��
(Still Mill
and Stillers.com -- when it comes to the analysis of the