View topic - The punting is going to cost us...write it down.

[KingCool Profile]

Just watched SD literally steal a game because of their punter.

I shudder to think how Berger is going to kill us in the field position battle.

[WoodsonOfSteel Profile]

I hope you are wrong.

Unfortunately, it's more-so possible than not. Berger sucks. Plain and simple.

[JumboHeadYouks Profile]

Listen....if the Steelers play their game and Ben doesn't blow it.....Berger won't matter. San Diego would not have been able to move the ball against the Steeler defense like they did against the soft Colt D. I am extremely pleased to NOT have to see Freeney and Mathis bitchify our offensive line....I am equally as pleased seeing Manning out of the playoffs.

The Steelers should obviously cheer for Miami as they have no shot at handling Pittsburgh's pressure..and their defense, though feisty, isn't all that good.

San Diego...man.. I would love to see Rivers knocked unconscious...he is one cocky, snide, little twat. If he tries thatlame duck scramble against the Steelers, Polamalu may just put him in the hospital.

Steelers 24
Miami 10

Steelers 27
San Diego 14

Either way..we will be playing in the AFC Championship game...you can take that shit to the bank.

[SnatchSacker Profile]

Listen....if the Steelers play their game and Ben doesn't blow it.....Berger won't matter. San Diego would not have been able to move the ball against the Steeler defense like they did against the soft Colt D. I am extremely pleased to NOT have to see Freeney and Mathis bitchify our offensive line....I am equally as pleased seeing Manning out of the playoffs.

The Steelers should obviously cheer for Miami as they have no shot at handling Pittsburgh's pressure..and their defense, though feisty, isn't all that good.

San Diego...man.. I would love to see Rivers knocked unconscious...he is one cocky, snide, little twat. If he tries thatlame duck scramble against the Steelers, Polamalu may just put him in the hospital.

Steelers 24
Miami 10

Steelers 27
San Diego 14

Either way..we will be playing in the AFC Championship game...you can take that shit to the bank.

Preach on brother JUMBO, PREACH ON!

[El Nino Profile]

Either way..we will be playing in the AFC Championship game...you can take that shit to the bank.

can't say it any better than that

[El Nino Profile]

SD played a solid game, imo they should have ran away with it if they didnt commit those 2 turnovers in the redzone.

granted our defense is not going to give up 300 yards to sproles like indy did, but they are looking tough. sure they're 8-8 but got into the playoffs with momentum, making them potentially dangerous

ah what the fuck am i saying, we're gonna kill them

[Cras108er Profile]

I agree that we should win handily in the divisional round. Baltimore and Indy were the two teams I was most concerned about. SD is going down because:

1. They are a west coast team. West coast teams do not travel east very well.

2. SD had an emotional OT win. They cannot maintain that intensity. Especially since they have now played six essentially playoff games in a row.

3. LT didn't sound to confident about playing next week. I'm beginning to question his toughness. Sproul isn't likely to put up the numbers he did against Indy.

Cras108er

[anthonyc20 Profile]

As long as Ben can make the 3rd down throws to our excellent wide receivers and we can control the clock, which shouldn't be to hard against mia or sd, we can easily overcome the lack of a punter.

Hopefully Arians wakes up and realizes we have 3 receivers that are great after the catch. Screen routes and quick slants have been our money plays all year, but Arians has neglected to call them until the end of games.

[WoodsonOfSteel Profile]

if the Steelers play their game and Ben doesn't blow it.....Berger won't matter

Don't get me wrong... I enjoyed reading your enthusiastic quasi-homer diatribe... But what is quoted there is basically... 50/50.

What IS the Steelers game? Are you THAT confident that Ben WON'T blow it?

Let's be realistic about this... Yes. They have been winning games, though some, if not most, in ugly come-from-behind fashion.

I don't remember the last time I've been so nervous every time the offense gets on the field. The run game sucks consistently when it comes to playing teams with at least a close-to-average defense... usually when Parker is starting and getting most of the carries. No, he is not entirely to blame. But point being... If you want to say "if the Steelers play their game", running the ball IS their game... And they haven't been doing much of that. Not that I've seen at least. (Go ahead. Mention the Browns game. I dare ya.)

So let's play 'what if'...

What if the run game is not established? Do you have faith that:

A.) The OLine protects Ben in an orderly fashion keeping his uniform clean?
B.) Ben doesn't show his jackassness by making poor decisions by holding on to the ball too long and/or forcing throws?

Both have been known to bite the team in the ass in a big-game atmosphere.

Yes... The defense have been solid all year.

Unfortunately for this thread... It's a matter of field position.

If the offense can't move the ball, Berger's going to have a looooong day of being booed.

I'm just sayin'.

[Stillustronic Profile]

You have to consider the game conditions of when Ben is accused of holding on to the ball too long when it occurs and if a 3 yard route is really going to help you any on 3rd and 13. On TV I can't always see if the receivers can't get off before the OL breaks down. I think most of the plays Ben takes a sack it's because of down and distance, and whether we're trailing at the time.

The lack of a good running game is giving teams better personnel to defend the mid routes, and our line consistently can't block 4 and sometimes even 3 with 5. Deeper routes by our receivers don't help slowing down the pressure, and this year I see a lot more poor play from the receiver's ability to get free. I don't know if the plays called are at fault or our guys just can't deal with the jam and break free faster. If you throw before the receiver breaks free you get INTs, you wait for them too long you get sacks.

I do know our stupid OL mistakes have turned many 3rd and mid distance downs into 3rd and 13's though. It's also interesting that more than most of the sacks came when we were trailing, and half came when we were trailing by two scores.

[jstallworth82 Profile]

As far as Ben goes the sooner that he realizes that a QB who plays smart will beat a QB who tries to do it all himself the sooner we will see a less productive offense. Ben is the key because he picked th plays and he runs them if you can not produce on your own plays you need to step back and allow the coaches to teach you. Ben is arrogant and a know it all his ego is getting in the way of the success of this team. Sure the O-Linesucks but a good QB can compensate enough for it to keep going. Sure Arians is an IDIOT but hey Ben picked the plays and now it is his fault. Tomlin needs to dictate to Ben his job not the other way around.

[JimPgh1 Profile]

Listen....if the Steelers play their game and Ben doesn't blow it.....Berger won't matter. San Diego would not have been able to move the ball against the Steeler defense like they did against the soft Colt D. I am extremely pleased to NOT have to see Freeney and Mathis bitchify our offensive line....I am equally as pleased seeing Manning out of the playoffs.

The Steelers should obviously cheer for Miami as they have no shot at handling Pittsburgh's pressure..and their defense, though feisty, isn't all that good.

San Diego...man.. I would love to see Rivers knocked unconscious...he is one cocky, snide, little twat. If he tries thatlame duck scramble against the Steelers, Polamalu may just put him in the hospital.

Steelers 24
Miami 10

Steelers 27
San Diego 14

Either way..we will be playing in the AFC Championship game...you can take that shit to the bank.

Yeah, we killed the Chargers 11-10 last time. That game would be a lock.

[indysteel Profile]

I would argue we probably would not make it past San Diego. Perhaps Miami.

Although I can't statistically validate it, it would appear the Steeler's run defense weakend over the last few weeks. They also have a history of allowing "no-names" to completely eat them alive. Perfect for Sproles (sp?). Plus, Ben is horrible after an injury and if he can go, he will go. Tommy Boy is not going to allow him to sit if he can play.

I would agree with the fact that ST -- which includes the Burgermeister -- will kill us. The defense is good....but they need either (a) help; or (b) completely mistake free football.

People are making way to much out of the D's statistical standings. It will be Benji and / or the STs that kill us.

I hate to be the house pessimist....but gotta call them like I seem 'em. Let's hope I am wrong.

[Jeemie Profile]

Ron Winter's crew (of the 13-2 penalties in favor of San Diego in our last meeting) officiated last night's game, so hopefully they won't be available to officiate our game!!!

[StainlessStill Profile]

I've been saying it all year that if .. and when it comes down to it, punting could be our failure. In our case, we hope it's our secret weapon. I too, am scared of the field position of both our defense, and offense may face.

[Steel_Scrotum Profile]

I would argue we probably would not make it past San Diego. Perhaps Miami.

Although I can't statistically validate it, it would appear the Steeler's run defense weakend over the last few weeks. They also have a history of allowing "no-names" to completely eat them alive. Perfect for Sproles (sp?). Plus, Ben is horrible after an injury and if he can go, he will go. Tommy Boy is not going to allow him to sit if he can play.

I would agree with the fact that ST -- which includes the Burgermeister -- will kill us. The defense is good....but they need either (a) help; or (b) completely mistake free football.

People are making way to much out of the D's statistical standings. It will be Benji and / or the STs that kill us.

I hate to be the house pessimist....but gotta call them like I seem 'em. Let's hope I am wrong.

fuck you

[PATitanSteveCJ Profile]

I would argue we probably would not make it past San Diego. Perhaps Miami.

Although I can't statistically validate it, it would appear the Steeler's run defense weakend over the last few weeks. They also have a history of allowing "no-names" to completely eat them alive. Perfect for Sproles (sp?). Plus, Ben is horrible after an injury and if he can go, he will go. Tommy Boy is not going to allow him to sit if he can play.

I would agree with the fact that ST -- which includes the Burgermeister -- will kill us. The defense is good....but they need either (a) help; or (b) completely mistake free football.

People are making way to much out of the D's statistical standings. It will be Benji and / or the STs that kill us.

I hate to be the house pessimist....but gotta call them like I seem 'em. Let's hope I am wrong.

I love this guy. A complete realist.

I agree, Sproles has the potential to tear the Stiller defense apart, but the key is going to be if San Diego's porous secondary will be up to the challenge of stopping 86, 85, and 10.

Scifres is the best punter in the league hands down and Berger is one of the worst, special teams definitely favors SD as well.

[btd343 Profile]

Punting is definitely going to cost us... Berger averages about 15 yards less than San Diego's punter, Sciferes. That guy should get the game ball for pinning the Colts inside the 20 so many times last game. Lets be honest... our return men suck so gotta find a way to win the field position battle...

[dracula in cleats Profile]

i have watched many games this year and lamented that the punter has sucked.

Still! You have to play every game. I like our special teams more this year. Harrison is a monster and Keryon Fox is 'the man' in that unit. They have had some other players step up and be tough. There had definitely been some scary moments.

Faith in the team is what motivates me. Ben has played in big games and has some skills. He needs to bring them out in full force and the need to get into some rhythm. I have had more confidence in their unit when it moves fast and Ben has more say in the plays that I have when Arian's is bungling the play calling.

The defensive attitude is right on. They are working together. they are not necessarily the all time best...or even NFL best...but they can be dominant at times and should be able to find ways to match up with the chargers guys...Gates is a monster...I wish Timmons could handle him...not sure if he can yet...they need solid tackles on everything that breaks past the line and they will be fine...missed tackles will equal san diego points! The defense has developed a good ethos of teamwork and I think can handle san diego enough to allow a few offensive points to win the game for us. i hope that i am right.

I also hope berger doesn't have to punt too often...i much prefer seeing reed kicking (if we can;t get in the EZ).

I also hope the raven / titan game is brutal and long and i don't care who wins!

Go Steelers!

[Steel Keeper Profile]

It very well may, although it certainly hasn't killed us this year. While Berger has been poor (he hasn't been too awful although Ernster was atrocious) the kick/punt coverage has been FANTASTIC which we haven't talked about enough. I mean just a shocking turn-around.

Dooms-dayers and supreme-confidents alike suffer from the same misunderstanding of prediction. You can't definitively say who is going to win. Some things work in our favor probability-wise (as well as against) but that doesn't mean "we are" or "we aren't" going to win. It just means "we have a better chance".

"Any given Sunday" really means "Teams' performances are variable and luck plays a huge factor. Therefore, every team, no matter how big an underdog has a chance of winning every game. Even if the '08 Lions played 1,000 games against the '07 Patriots they would win at least 1 of them."