View topic - New Article: 2009 Stillers Roster Overview

[StillMill Profile]

2009 Stillers Roster Overview has been posted by Still Mill at Stillers.com.

[steelcitymetal Profile]

Maybe the real season will bring out the best in Mendy, but his burst and explosive was rather humdrum.

hopefully he has learned not to talk trash. (against the ravens, at least)

it is imperative the Stillers get the ball into Logan’s hands at least 6 times a game

:suplusone:

Ziggy Hood showed some flashes of quickness and brawn

don't forget about his smooth moves

Reed, in my opinion, is a much higher signing priority than Fat Casey, Parker, or any of the other upcoming UFAs

agreed

KR: Stefan Logan was the huge hit of preseason.

i picked him up on my fantasy team in hopes for many points in the return game

[steelcitymetal Profile]

another thing we need to improve on from last season...

preventing THIS from happening again:

[ohio steelr Profile]

It's great to see a Still Mill article again.

I share Mill's concerns about the O line. What gets me the most is that the Steelers knew that they had nothing in OT's Hills, Capizzi and Parquet before this year's draft yet chose not to draft a single OT. This is mind boggling.

[Pump-N-Iron Profile]

Reed, in my opinion, is a much higher signing priority than Fat Casey, Parker, or any of the other upcoming UFAs

They made a contract offer to him Sunday night, but his agent rejected it for being too low.

[napnewman Profile]

I hope the o-line steps up - this continues to be problem for the Steelers...
Concerned about Mendenhall - if Parker isn't resigned (or worse, hurt this year) can he carry the team?

good to see a Mill article!

[mckeesrockstheburg Profile]

{another thing we need to improve on from last season...

preventing THIS from happening again:]

There IS away to lighten this up. Keep the opposing "D's" from stacking against the O-Line. Maybe, just MAYBE, some quick hit passes to TE's behind linebackers, stay out of the &*% "Bunch Formation" where everyone, including the parking lot attendants, know a run is coming, get the 1-back junk out of there.

Siad it before many times, BA has NO CLUE how to leverage a weakness into a strength. Pass on the run downs and run on pass downs, use Logan, Wallace, Sweed, anyone on delayed crossing patterns (ala Wes Welker). Keeps a defense alert and a tick slower when they have to think about the possibilities.

Then again, it requires an OC to "think" too! Oops, my bad!

think of the possibilites: Logan on screens? They got to find him first, then try to tackle him.
Taking on bets on whether we see used like this? Put me down as "NEVER".
Wallace on a short crossing between corners and backers thru the middle?: "Rarely"
Miller, Spaeth on quick hitters off the line behind the L-backers?: " In my dreams"

[Pump-N-Iron Profile]

All of our suggestions for improvements require the removal of Bruce "The Blood Clot" Arians for anything resembling an O-Coordinator.

If you want to stop the safeties from ass-humping the LBs, send a TE deep down the middle once in a while and make them play coverage. This is especially effective against the Tampa-2, even more so when combined with PAP.

Until we start seeing more Nickle and Dime looks from opposing Defenses, every game should start with 3 consecutive PAPs

[stillchest Profile]

PAP's would be nice, with an O-line that can maintain their blocking assignments longer than two seconds.

We have seen far too many PAP's blown up because the O-Line misses an assignment due to miscommunication or loses one on one.

That is completely unacceptable of ANY organized football O-Line.

[Pump-N-Iron Profile]

Aren't those same linemen asked to hold their blocks for a good 8 seconds while BR7 hands off to the RB 7 yards deep so the counter play has time to develop?

[stillchest Profile]

Yes, they are. Those same inept linemen.

Little push in the run game, which makes PAP irrelevant.

I think that, Kemo's problem is from the neck up..not too bright and miscommunicates with Hartwig. Kemo has poor pre-snap recognition and has difficulty thinking on his feet.

Starks is lazy and sloppy in his technique. Slow footed for a LT, as well.

Hartwig is our most consistent linemen, imo. Although, he doesn't possess the strength to anchor against bigger DT's lor get much push in the run game.

Essex, I think is better suited for the lleft side of the line...as a backup. He played very well at Northwestern in a spread offense. I just don't think he has the measurables suited to play guard.

Colon, I think is better suited for guard who again, seems to lack the measurables of a NFL OT.

So, we have an adequate center, two linemen who are playing out of position, a lazy oaf, and a football, mentally disadvantaged linemen.

[mckeesrockstheburg Profile]

We have 5, average at best, linemen include TE and Hines blocking 8 - 9 defenders who know what is coming and probably have a pretty good idea where - 1 tackle spot or the other. Gee.

Yes, OL is weak but it can be decoyed with PAP as mentioned with seam routes by Miller, Sweed or Wallace (speed kills!). Gets linebackers thinking pass, keeps safeties out of the jocks of the 'backers and hopefully forces corners into man coverage. Why were we SO DARN effective in the playoff games of '05?

That's what chips my butt. Can't they go back and see what worked?

Arians: "We'll give FWP 30 handles a game. My offense will NOT have 2-backs." Did you all see that?
That's nice,...real freakin' nice. Get the guy killed just trying to get to LOS, keep Mendy on the pine with limited game experience (we all remember Sweed in playoffs - not ready for Prime Time and NOT his fault) and keep our "D" on the field until the final 2 mins. when BB can take over - No Arians Interference.
He is... one big Blood Clot!

[twistedsteel Profile]

They never should have kept Kritchske over Harris. I think Travis has photos of LeBeau in compromising positions to have stayed on the roster when youth is much more important than experience at this stage.

[tourosteelersfan Profile]

Mill:

Glad to see you back in the saddle. The site's been a little blinky but I trust you're protected against hackers from Baltimore, New England, San Diego, etc. There isn't much to say that hasn't been said this preseason. That's a good thing. I think a repeat run is a realistic possibility but just want to remind everyone how important luck is in making such a run.

From last year's following run, consider the following:

1. The Ravens gave away the first game of the regular season. The Cowboys handed over the regular season game. Big Ben rallied against the Steelers against an ultimately mediocre Jacksonville team. A loss in any of those games would have reshuffled the playoffs deck.

2. As to the playoffs, I credit Tomlin for using the week off wisely. Hence the thrashing of the Chargers. And though I am confident the Steelers could have beaten the Titans away, the team certainly benefitted from playing the winner of the Balt-TN slugfest. The Steelers had a much easier path to the SB than they did a few years ago against Seattle, to stay the least.

3. In the Super Bowl, the Steelers couldn't ice the game because they couldn't run the ball. And fortunately Ken Whisenhunt borrowed a page from Arians and tried to run for much of the first half instead of exploiting the Cardinals' strength and going no-huddle with quick passes.

I take nothing away from last year's team, which came together and persevered despite an extremely difficult regular season schedule. (And in my mind, the Steelers only really got beat by the Eagles early on; the losses to the Colts and the Giants occurred when Big Ben was playing with an injury and were games that could have been won; and the loss to TN was an understandable letdown - and even then, the Steelers led for part of the game before fumbling it away.) My point is that even if there are no offensive line injuries (unlikely) and even if there isn't too much of a letdown (and this isn't much of a worry given the humiliating season and worthless performance by Tomlin's predecessor, remind me of his name), the Steelers need luck and chemistry for everything to come together at the right time. The Giants looked like a dynasty unfolding last year until PB pulled down the pillars by shooting himself.

Final thoughts: I am very excited about Timmons; somewhat excited about Logan (regular season play is at a consistently higher level, not sure we'll see anything like the Carolina preseason punt return against a quality team); and disagree about Mendenhall (not sure whether it's physical or mental with him, but he's been underwhelming; I certainly wouldn't give up on him though and think he can still develop into a quality back).

As for tonight? TN should get ready for the smackdown it avoided in the AFC championship game. Steelers by at least a touchdown.

Touro

[oldschoolhunkie Profile]

Blah blah, blah. Hey Touro, if pigs had wings they could fly. All you guys do is run around and say "the sky would have fallen if it didn't fall." whatever flaws the stillers have, everyone else has worse. I would pay good money to watch farrior take down Mill 00 or you, Touro. Meow!

I am ready for kick f'in off.

[smheart78 Profile]

I think a repeat run is a realistic possibility but just want to remind everyone how important luck is in making such a run.

There have been 39 AFCCGs played since 1970. The Steelers have played in 14 of them (36%).
There have been 39 Super Bowls since 1970. The Steelers have played in 18% of them.

[mckeesrockstheburg Profile]

Touro: A lot of research and memory put into that post! I would only say that I am sure the Titans, Ravens, etc. all had their issues to deal with and had some "luck" along the way as well. The Steelers do have a formula that works and it appears it can't be readily or easily duplicated. Obviously NE comes closest and I am now getting a feeling they just might have a leg up on us. I hated those guys when I lived in NH, (I hated the 'Boys when I lived in Dallas), but did you see where NE traded Seymour to Oakland for a 1st Round (are you kidding me?) pick in 2011 or so. Traded Hobbs for picks and got picks for Samuel I believe when he signed with Phila.

NE has been stockpiling draft picks every year for the last few. Gives them either a good pick or a trade opp. for more picks in the future (to do the exact same thing). I don't follow their roster to know if this system is "working" BUT they are the pick to win it all again this year. I have my doubts. Fred Taylor and Faulk are getting up there as is Galloway and Moss but they have a couple young backs and receivers also.
Maybe they need retreads to have experience around while youngsters develop, not sure.

Now, we keep an old Kirschke(sp?) and let a young prospect, Sonny Harris, go. Not my style but I have to have faith the system will hold. I do believe Timmons makes defense better and I am on record with Gay getting 5-7 picks this yr because of Timmons. Not sure who could handle Timmons and Woodley coming from the same side. I hope we'll see alot of hurry-up tosses that are ready for picking.