The Steep Price of Excellence for the Steelers’ Defense

I started watching football in 1980.

That qualifies as pretty bad timing if you are a Pittsburgh Steeler fan. I have the vaguest recollections of the Black and Gold’s fourth Super Bowl victory over the then Los Angeles Rams in 1979 but little else. My first true memories of Steeler football are of a 9 and 7 football team in 1980 that kicked off a decade of mediocre football in the Burgh. It was truly the only down period of Pittsburgh Steeler football in my lifetime.

I do not have memories of Joe Green and Jack Lambert eviscerating offenses with ferocity and skill. I do not have memories of Mel Blount blanketing and shutting down the top receivers in the game. I know of that only from books and the grainy highlight videos of that era. My memories are of those proud warriors on the back ends of their career when they were no longer elite players. There were occasions when they could still be great but never again was there the consistency of dominance that existed in the 1970s.

I cannot help but wonder if we are living that again in 2012.

The Steelers of the 70s got old together and the team simply could not replace those great players. That aforementioned decade of mediocrity in the '80s was the price of dominance.  For 4 Super Bowl championships in 6 years that price was a bargain.

The Steeler defense of the 2000s also got old together, again with championship results. You do not break up a dominant group that was the driving force behind an 8 year run of excellence including three Super Bowl appearances and two championships.

Eventually, the run has to end; especially given the NFL’s infinite array of methods to promote parity amongst its members. The question is, are the Steelers about to pay the same price they did in the '80s? Will it take a decade to replace the deep and talented group of stars that drove this recent success?

For what it’s worth, I thought the defense was showing its age in 2009 when the Steelers started regularly blowing 4th quarter leads; often to mediocre (or worse) opponents. To their credit, these proud warriors fought back with another brilliant season in 2010. The defense was the driving force behind an 8th Super Bowl run. That the Steelers ultimately lost that game does not change my view that keeping the unit together was the right move.

And statistically the Steelers had another strong defense last year. They ranked number 1 in the NFL in points allowed; a fairly difficult statistic to argue with. And yet I’m guessing most Steelers fans would say there was something different about last year’s unit. Somehow the defense never seemed as good as the numbers it produced, even before the unspeakable day they were Tebowed in Denver.

The 2011 defense was solid but certainly not the elite, game changing unit we’ve grown accustomed to. There was a shocking paucity of impact, game changing plays; a hallmark of the black and gold for the last 20 years. Worse than that, you got the sense that any truly elite QB was going to pick them apart. It was, adjusting for the philosophical differences of the era; very similar to the 1979 defense; a solid group but one that did not perform to the level of its immediate predecessors.

This results in part from the NFL’s incessant drive to become outdoor arena football. It’s hardly a coincidence that we are seeing record passing and scoring numbers in the league the last few years. It started with liberalized illegal contact rules that made it harder to cover. Then came the reflexive penalty flag pretty much any time a defender dropped a hard hit on a quarterback or receiver. A big component of the Steel Curtain for years was intimidation. Any receiver who went over the middle risked a trip to the hospital; and teams were well aware of that danger. Now those same receivers can run through the middle with impunity.

In short, the NFL has legislated intimidation out of the defensive game plan; a change that damaged the Steelers as much or more than any other team.

Even with the reality of these changes it’s impossible not to notice the aging of this defense. We’ve already seen age and injury take out Aaron Smith and James Farrior. Casey Hampton and James Harrison seem to be on the same path. And it’s slowly but surely taking its toll on the unit’s most indispensable player, Troy Polamalu. It seems only a matter of time before Troy loses that half-step of speed that makes him so dominant, and/or he takes one to many cracks to the cranium (if he has not already).

This transition was inevitable and quite frankly I expected it sooner than now. I’ll be the first to admit I was not overly surprised watching Peyton Manning pick the defense apart last Sunday night; most notably as a result of a complete lack of pass rush from the second quarter on. Certainly the absence of Harrison and Ryan Clark played a factor and hopefully their returns this week (or later) will be impactful. That does not change the fact that both players are aging; and Harrison is now doing so on an injured knee.

I am not suggesting things are hopeless. The Steelers used two first round picks in the last four years on defensive linemen in Ziggy Hood and Cameron Heyward. If either or both become impact players it would make a huge difference. The jury is still very much out but to this point neither has been a true difference maker. Heyward is still very young; the clock is ticking on Hood.

That means that in 2012, the Steelers two most dominant defensive players are the same as they were in 2008; Polamalu and Harrison. Given their age plus accumulated wear and tear, that’s not a sustainable formula for success at their age.

I also wonder if the zone blitz, 3-4 defense can still be effective in today’s NFL. That defense has always been predicated on obliterating the running game and then blitzing from all angles against QBs in long yardage situations. I’m not sure that approach can work in a league where teams play Madden, video game football, willingly abandoning the run and throwing 50 plus quick passes a game. New England and Green Bay have shown definitively how to beat the Dick Lebeau defense. Those same two teams were stymied twice in five years by the NY Giants; a defense built around a dominant from four. The Giants can pressure the elite passing QBs of today while still dropping 7 defenders in to coverage.

That said, any scheme can be effective with the right players. It’s possible the Lebeau scheme is outdated. It’s every bit if not more possible that the Steelers no longer have the depth of elite personnel to be a truly dominant defense. I’m pretty sure the 1974 and 2008 Steeler defenses could have dominated with virtually any scheme.  The players were simply that good.

So am I predicting doom and gloom? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I have tremendous faith in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ organization. No team in sports has been consistently better at rebuilding and retooling on the fly. Few teams in sports do a better job of maximizing the talent they have. The last eight years have been without question the second best era of Steeler football ever behind the 70s; but keep in mind this team has been a consistent championship contender for two decades. I always believe in this franchise and I still believe a playoff berth in 2012 is fully possible.

That said, sustained excellence in the NFL almost always comes at a price. Eventually teams are forced to rebuild or at least retool. I can’t help but think that the Steelers might be on that path, at least on one side of the ball.

Why I hate the Ravens...

Hate is a strong word, one I use with much trepidation in any situation. With that preface I say this without any doubt, I hate the Baltimore Ravens.

In other news, the sun came up in this morning.

Which is to say that my hatred for the Ravens ranks fairly high on the obvious meter. It correlates somewhere along the lines of The Tea Party and Barrack Obama’s domestic policies.

And without getting too much in to mathematic proofs here (unless Weet requires it), there is a somewhat geometric concept in play here; i.e. as long as the sun continues to come up, I will continue to hate the Baltimore Ravens. I would wager a fair some of money that most of the Steeler Nation feels pretty much the same way.

My disdain for the Ravens has grown consistently since the Rat Birds somehow won the Super Bowl in 2000 and reached its apex on Sunday September 11, 2011. I thought I hated the Ravens before my wife and I endured three hours of grotesque personal abuse at M&T Bank Stadium. Now I can say (for both of us), I truly despise them.

On the field the Ravens pounded and embarrassed the Steelers that day. It was in every way shape and form one of the ugliest Steeler losses I can remember, the magnitude increased given the opponent.

One could argue we should not care. After all, what is one regular season loss compared to the litany of crucial victories the Steelers have pulled off in this series? What is one regular season loss compared to three times knocking Baltimore from the playoffs; twice on the way to the Super Bowl? What’s one regular season loss compared to watching Ray Lewis go from screaming and strutting in the pregame to slumping off the field in defeat?

Logically, it’s nothing.

Alas recency bias is an exceptionally powerful force in sports, even more so when you endure three hours of emotional debauchery in the stands. For the record, I’ve attended Steeler and Penguin road games in eight different cities; always clad in black and gold, and NEVER, I repeat NEVER, encountered fan behavior half as vile a what Emily and I endured in Baltimore.

Did I expect it to be a tough environment? Of course. Did I expect a purported adult human being to repeatedly scream the f word right in my face because I was wearing black and gold? Honestly no. And that was the high point of the Raven’s crowd.

I’m a bit ashamed to admit that both Emily and I changed out of our Steeler gear before boarding public transportation outside the stadium. Honestly, and I’m not exaggerating this, we did it out of fear for our safety. Some would call this an intelligent decision and no big deal. To me, it’s akin to Charlton Heston’s famous proclamation that “Bill Clinton can have my gun when he rips it from my cold dead hand.”

It was that ugly boys and girls. And yes I’m angry.

It takes zero additional incentive for me to get amped for the Ravens mind you; but I’ll have plenty in reserve. I’ve always felt it enough for the Black and Gold to beat Baltimore. On Sunday I’m hoping for a “scrape Joe Flacco of the turf” style humiliation.

I’m expecting that the Steelers feel the same way.

Under ordinary circumstances I would fear a letdown this weekend. It’s perfectly understandable coming off the Steelers first victory over Tom Brady in seven years. If this week’s opponent were Kansas City, San Francisco or even the surprising Bungles, I would be genuinely concerned.

Given the Steelers rivalry with Baltimore; combined with what happened eight weeks ago, I see little reason to fear. I’m especially comforted when Mike Tomlin starts his press conference with “Its Ravens week.”

It’s a fascinating comparison, the Steelers’ rivalries with Baltimore versus New England. There is a visceral hatred that exists between the Steelers and the Rat Birds. In contrast, with New England it’s more about knocking those arrogant SOBs down a peg or two. The irony is that New England is the only team in the NFL that forces the Steelers to abandon their identity to beat them. In contrast, the Ravens amplify it.

Go figure the Black and Gold seem to own Baltimore while struggling to beat New England. The Ravens, by virtue of their Steeler like approach to football, are the perfect opponent for Pittsburgh. Simply put, you can’t out Steeler the Steelers. The Ravens like it tough and ugly. The Steelers have always been tougher and uglier…in a beautiful way of course.

With the notable exception of eight weeks ago. I’m still perplexed as to what happened that day. To be that flat against their hated rival; in the most hatred fill rivalry in all of professional sports was simply inexcusable.

I’m confident that the players and their coaches are well aware of that; and have not forgotten.

Which is to say that the Steelers; a team that rarely lacks in motivation, heart, or determination, should have a surplus of all on Sunday night. This is not just about one critical win in the standings, it’s about organization pride. This is about saying that nobody slaps around the Pittsburgh Steelers and gets away with it. NOBODY! Least of all the Baltimore Ravens.

The Steelers were as focused and motivated as I’ve ever seen them against the Brady bunch last Sunday. They should be even more so this week.

Notwithstanding the emotional element (which I ‘m clearly struggling to avoid) this is bar none biggest game of the season. As much as I hate the Ravens, they have to be considered a dangerous opponent. It’s hard to conceive of them losing more than two games other than the Steeler game. A Steeler win opens up a legitimate path to another division title. A Ravens all but assures the arduous wild card route for the Black and Gold.

That’s not an impossible mission mind you. We’ve seen both for better and for worse since 2005 that a wild card team can win the Super Bowl. All things being equal however, I’ll take my chances with home field advantage and a first round bye. There is an excellent chance of a Steelers/Ravens playoff battle in January and we’ve seen home field advantage be a crucial factor in both match-ups.

To that end, the circumstances are frighteningly similar to last year. The Steelers put themselves in a must win position by losing to Baltimore at home in week 4. That set-up a must win rematch; one the Steelers ultimately pulled out in brilliantly ugly fashion. The Ravens controlled most of the game only to follow the age old script of a critical Flacco turnover, converted to a score by Raven killer Troy Polamalu.

It was classic Steelers/Ravens in every detail, right down to the final result.

One could argue that Baltimore is the perfect rival for the Steelers; a team that brings out the best in the Black and Gold yet always falls short when it matters most. And on some level, buried deep within my subconscious, I have a begrudging respect for the Rat Birds on field success. Such thoughts however are blinded by the raw emotion inspired by this rivalry; especially given what transpired eight weeks ago. In short, my brain may respect the Ravens success; my heart hates them too much to listen or care.

Logically I know that victory, by any means and any score is what matters here. Emotionally I want more, something along the lines of ground Raven paste. When the Ravens confront you they are the enemy…and the enemy deserves no mercy. Or something like that from what I recall.

Victory is all that matters, but for once victory alone is not enough.

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO !!!

Steelers’ Offense Sticks it to New England, Just as Planned

There truly are not many feelings in sports better than sticking it to the New England Patriots.

There is a smug arrogance about that Pats that defies description.  It permeats virtually every player and coach in the organization.  The trail of arrogance and ego starts with their condescending, know it all head coach and filters down through their condescending pretty boy quarterback. I respect Bill Belichick’s success as a coach. I respect Tom Brady’s brilliance on the field. And I truly cannot stand either one of them.

They don’t inspire quite the visceral hatred of say the Baltimore Ravens, but they’re definitely a close second.

Even as I know that next week’s game with Baltimore is the most important of the season, I’m downright giddy about yesterday’s result. They don’t hand out the Lombardi trophy in late October mind you but understand this; there are moments in sports truly worth savoring that do not involving winning a championship.

Yes it’s childish, yes it’s petty, yes it’s vindictive. So be it. Watching Brady and Belicheat slump off the field in defeat is worth a little premature celebration. Especially knowing how this victory was accomplished.

For the first time in a decade, the Steelers clearly and unequivocally out schemed, out coached, and out played the Patriots with Brady behind center.

The Steelers’ performance was eerily reminiscent of their playoff victory in Indianapolis in January 2006. That was the last time the Black and Gold went so out of character in a victory. It was also the last time they so thoroughly out played and out coached an elite opponent.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are built first and foremost with defense. They hire defensive minded head coaches and focus the greater percentage of their cap space and draft choices on the defensive side of the ball. The defense dictates games and the offense plays an important but often complimentary role. That’s Pittsburgh Steeler football and it has been for four decades.

Well, four decades with a few notable exceptions, such as yesterday.

Yesterday the Pittsburgh Steelers changed their identity, by necessity. It was the offense that dictated and controlled the game. Not only that, they did it almost entirely by throwing the football. The Steelers controlled the entire game with a high percentage passing attack that ground up yards and clock with equal proficiency.

In so doing, they exposed the obvious weakness of the New England defense, its inability to stop the pass. And they took out New England’s greatest strength, Brady’s pinpoint passing. I don’t care how good a QB Giselle’s husband may be, he can’t win football games standing on the sideline.

This is my 32nd year of watching Pittsburgh Steeler football and I cannot ever remember a game plan like this for a full game. Even that famous game in Indy where the Steelers went airborne for 30 minutes and then settled back in to running in the second half. More than that, the Steeler defense that day dictated the game to Peyton Manning. Yesterday’s defensive performance was solid, but very much complimentary.

To be clear, I’m not dismissing the defense in any way. This was bar none the best game plan Dick Lebeau has ever engineered against Brady. The Steelers got in the face of his wide receivers and did not allow Mr. Bundchen the easy completions of prior years. That’s a tribute to Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu and a secondary that is considerably improved in 2011.

It’s also a credit to the substantially improved defensive line play, a wake up from Lamar Woodley, and a much needed shuffling out of aging players in the last four weeks.

On merit alone, the Steelers finally stopped Brady; finally stopped him from exploiting the obvious mismatch he presents to the typical Lebeau scheme. In so doing they validated a group that has been shockingly steady this season while rarely imposing its will on opponents.

At the same time, I cannot fathom this much success if Brady had the ball for 30 minutes instead of 20, especially given Woodley’s 4th quarter injury. We saw this on New England’s last touchdown drive where Brady went right back to slicing the Steeler D. Ask yourself this question. If Brady gets the ball back with two minutes left and at least one time out, are you confident in a Steeler win?

Simply put, the most effective scheme the Steelers used to stop Brady was to keep him on the sidelines gnashing his teeth. There is nothing wrong with that. As noted above, its brilliant total football strategy and solid execution, lead part and parcel by Ben Roethlisberger.

I continue to fight the dreaded and ignorant “game manager” characterization of Big Ben. I’ve come to resent even more those who say, “It’s not pretty but he finds a way to win.” Both labels unfairly demean the accomplishments of one of the truly great and truly under-appreciated quarterbacks of this generation.

On Sunday, Ben was brilliant and effective, and everything else his critics claim he cannot be. Excepting one truly awful interception, he played a tremendous football game. The Steelers ran a New England offensive game plan against New England. It worked because Big Ben out played Brady and made it work. Somehow I don’t see this game plan with Neil O’Donnell, Kordell Stewart or Phillip Rivers behind center.

He did not do it alone of course. He was helped by and offensive line that has improved ten-fold in the last four games. It’s amazing what a difference Max Starks has made since his return. He was helped by a young core of receivers that has matured brilliantly before our eyes. And let’s not forget Heath Miller whose great start today was reminiscent of that playoff game in Indy. Miller’s best effort of the year, hands down.

At the same time, kudos to Mike Tomlin for clearly out coaching Belicheat. Credit to the far too often maligned Bruce Arians for putting in place a great game plan. It’s not easy for a leopard to change its spots but the Steelers did it with shocking ease on Sunday.

Sadly we get less than a week to savor this victory. As great as this game was, Sunday night’s battle with the Ravens is the game of the season, a true must win. As is so often the case, this game will dictate the Steelers ultimate post season path. A victory makes home field advantage and a first round bye a realistic course. A loss almost certainly requires the arduous wild card route in January.

It seems almost unfair for the Steelers to run this schedule gauntlet; to face their two most hated rivals in back to back games. Not to mention the surprisingly improved Bungles before the bye.

Such is life. If there is one team in sports that can overcome this it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. The standard is the standard as coach Tomlin says, regardless of the opponent(s). Beyond that, the Steelers should be pretty frosted about their horrific performance on opening day against Baltimore. Avenging that embarrassment should bring added levels of motivation, focus, and determination to a team that does not lack these traits to begin with.

For now, let’s savor a tremendous victory; one that showcased the talent, heart, and brilliance of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Let’s enjoy truly sticking it to Brady and Belicheat for once. The Ravens can wait…at least a few days.

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO !!!

Bring on the Ravens…Again

I think it’s fair and pretty obvious to state that the Baltimore Ravens have become far and away the Steelers biggest rival. Which means that Saturday’s match-up is more than just your typical divisional playoff game.

The Steelers and Ravens have a one of a kind rivalry in today’s NFL; a brutally physical match-up where the teams beat each other up as much as beat each other. Truth be told, it’s the only current rivalry that would make the Steelers and Raiders of the 70s proud. The games are ultimately about survival as much as victory.

Both teams are built on the same philosophy; brutally physical and dominant defense. They play at least twice each year; each game a classic battle of attrition decided on or near the last possession. It’s the perfect storm for a rivalry as good as any in sports; and that’s before you consider that the Steelers swept Baltimore on the way to their 2008 Super Bowl championship. As if there was not enough fuel in the fire already.

The masochist in me wants to see the Steelers slug it out in another of those epic, bruising, physical games that they always play against Baltimore. Even in today’s kindler, gentler NFL, these teams still bring out that primordial brutality that we love in football. We may hate Haloti Ngata punching Ben in the face, and yet there is something about Ben playing…and WINNING…with his nose in three pieces that screams Steeler football.

Every playoff win is a huge deal. That said, there is something even more satisfying when it comes at the expense of a hated rival. I lived it twice during the Penguins remarkable Stanley Cup run two years ago. I can only imagine that’s how Steelers fans felt in the 70s when they would knock off Oakland and Dallas. Watching the Raven’s once again stagger off the field in bitter defeat would be nearly as enjoyable as watching the Steelers celebrate victory.

And that’s before we consider what is likely to be yet another 200 minute CBS love fest for Joe Flacco; the man who I’m told has reinvented the QB position in three short years.

Allow me a minute to bask in the glow of hope.

Now back to reality.

I would like to believe that the Steelers are better than the Ravens but let’s be honest, these teams are about as evenly matched as they get. It is merely by a fluke of the tiebreaker world that the Steelers have home field advantage and an extra week to rest. Crush the Ravens if you want for their early season loss to Cincy but remember that it apparently required divine intervention for the Steelers to beat Buffalo in November (for the record, this blog is not necessarily in agreement with Stevie Johnson’s interpretation of why he dropped that ball).

The two teams played twice this season and the games were classic Steelers/Ravens. Both came down to the final possession, both could easily have gone either way. In all honesty, I thought the Charlie Batch version of the Steelers played a better game in week 4, than Ben and the boys played in early December, but in the end, both games were decided by the narrowest of margins.

And let’s be honest, were it not for the incomparable Troy Polamalu, the Steelers would have been the team tearing the guts out of Indianapolis last weekend rather than getting a critically needed week to rest and heal.

Regardless that’s all irrelevant now. The situation is what it is. I’ve spent the week trying to convince myself that home field advantage and the first round bye is a huge advantage for the Steelers but deep down I don’t really believe it. Not after watching Baltimore brutalize an overmatched Kansas City team in Sunday’s glorified scrimmage. Not after seeing the Steelers lose countless home playoff games before finally winning the Super Bowl the year they had to play three straight road games.

No, I’m pretty set on the reality that this will be another classic Steelers/Raven’s slugfest.

There is not much point in analyzing this game from a strategic standpoint. These two teams have met 15 times in the Roethlisberger era and the blue prints are pretty well drawn. They will play a low scoring game where rushing yards come at a serious premium. Field position will be critical which will put the emphasis on special teams and of course not turning the ball over. Little mistakes that are often overlooked in other match-ups will be game changers here (see Sweed, Limas).

The Raven’s actually play the field position game better. They have a better kicker and punter and better coverage teams. That means that all things being equal, the Steelers will be fighting uphill on the field position battle all day. Historically the Steeler defense has overcome this with 60 minutes of brilliant play and one spectacular game changing moment. In short, if the Steelers win, I fully expect we will be recounting another moment where Polamalu wrecks Flacco. Dare to dream.

And there is also the Roethlisberger factor.

Personally, I’ve had enough stories of Ben’s personal redemption (though I doubt the networks have). This is now about high pressure, playoff football which is where he excels. I continue to say that Ben is one of the truly elite players in sports in regards to his ability to raise his game when it matters. Well this is yet another chance for him to prove it.

Steeler fans understandably gripe about Ben not getting enough respect from the fickle national media. Rest assured, that will change if he wins a 3rd Super Bowl, especially considering the brutal path the Steelers will likely have to travel. This is absolutely his opportunity to stuff it to the myopic football think tank that somehow pushes Phillip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers and for the love off all that’s good and holy, Flacco above him.

Ben’s history suggests he can and will step up in this moment; especially now that his offense line finally seems committed to prolonging his football life. Flacco’s history suggests he might just drop an extra possession or two in our laps. Keep in mind that while Phil Simms was basking in Flacco’s radiant glow last Sunday, the man who could not start for Dave Wannstedt at Pitt did manage to fumble twice. I’m not sure the Steelers will be as forgiving of such transgressions as Kansas City was.

All that said, the reality remains that these are two very evenly matched teams. There is little doubt in my mind that the 2008 Steelers were at least a half step better than Baltimore. We can not say that this time. If the Steelers bring anything less than their ‘A’ game on Saturday, my next Steeler blog will be a post mortem and a look ahead to next year’s draft.

It is pointless and in fact inappropriate to look beyond Baltimore but hard not to given the prospect of the next opponent. Giselle’s husband and the NFL’s most arrogant head coach will likely be waiting for whoever survives Sunday’s match-up. It will take a nearly perfect performance to knock of Belicheat’s boys and I don’t see that coming from the big talk, little action New York, Jets.

The concern of course is the physical toll a playoff win against Baltimore might take on the Steelers. Remember how beat up they were for the Bungles following the Sunday night blood bath in December? It’s hard to play a “perfect game” if half your players are hobbling in and out of the huddle. That issue is compounded by the reality that even at their best, the Steelers do not match-up well with New England.

So be it. True champions find a way to win, regardless of the path. They are undaunted; not by the schedule, by the officials, or by seemingly insurmountable obstacles. They do not rely on fortuitous match-ups; they beat the best to be the best. Just the same, teams that lack championship metal tend to come up short regardless of circumstances.

How could the same Penguin team that won 7th games in Washington and Detroit lose one at home to 8th seeded Montreal the next season? How could the Steelers’ team that pulled off that epic drive against Arizona lose a critical Thursday night game in Cleveland the same calendar year? How can New Orleans win the Super Bowl and mail in a loss to 7 and 9 Seattle inside of 12 months? It’s the difference between being championship caliber…and everything else.

The Steelers have played like Champions all year. They have maintained “the standard is the standard” and no excuses. They did not back down from the loss of their franchise quarterback, injuries or questionable officiating.

The Steelers will not win a championship because they beat Baltimore and New England. They will beat Baltimore and New England because they are a championship team. That’s what champions do. Champions also take it one game at a time; which means right now its all about the Ravens.

Steelers 16 – Ravens 13

Steelers Display the Heart of a Champion

There are moments when champions define and separate themselves from their competitors. Sunday night in Baltimore was such a moment for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On a night when the Steelers had every conceivable excuse to quit, they battled to the very end. With injuries, officials, and their toughest rivals stacked against them, the Steelers refused to succumb to defeat. In the most critical of moments, under the most intense pressure, the Steelers prevailed, against all odds.

I can not possibly overstate the importance of this victory. Physically, emotionally, and in the standings, it was the game of the year. We’ve known that since the hard fought last second loss in Pittsburgh in early October. This was an absolute must win game.

I will never give up the Steelers; I learned that lesson in 2005. At the same time, let’s be honest. Going the wild card route to a Super Bowl is tenuous under the best of circumstances. For a team as beat up as the Steelers, in a year with so much parity in the AFC, a first round bye would be an enormous advantage.

If the Steelers lost tonight, they were stuck going the wild card route. Now the division and a first round bye is a very real expectation.

That’s certainly a critical part of it. The other part was that the Steelers needed to step up with a signature victory in a significant game. To do so with a dramatic late game victory, spurred on by their defense was a potential season changing moment. To do it on the road, against their biggest and most physical rival…well that’s how championship teams come together.

Yes, this was a sloppy, ugly victory. I could write a 5,000 word blog on all the errors, physical and mental, that were made in this game. The Steelers made some ugly mistakes including three different brainless special teams’ gaffes. The offense struggled for 60 minutes to string together successful drives.

In other words, it was just another Steelers/Ravens battle, especially in Baltimore.

Prior to kickoff tonight I reminded Emily of what she already knows; what all Steeler fans know. Steelers/Ravens games are low scoring, incredibly physical affairs that come down to the last moments. It happens every game between these brutally physical rivals. There has not been a more violent and physical rivalry in the NFL since the Steelers and Oakland in the 70s.

And as is so often the case, when it really mattered, the Steelers showed more heart and character than their loud mouthed division rivals to the south.

There are certain things in sports that can not adequately be measured. Heart and character are at the top of that list. The Steelers consistently display championship heart. I will take that in a second over Peyton Manning’s arm or Adrian Peterson’s legs. No team in sports has consistently displayed more heart and character than the black and gold over the last 20 years.

I’m sure the critics will be all over Bruce Arians tomorrow for the offensive struggles. So be it. I’m sure Steeler fans will be up in arms about another 60 minute miscarriage of officiating justice. It is what it is.

Once again the Steelers proved what I always say about great teams in sports. Champions simply find a way to win. I’ve said it in many forms but the quote, “winners win, losers blame the ref” seems especially apropos these days.

The Steelers offensive line, a weak unit to begin with is continually devastated by injuries. They lost their punter. Their quarterback has a broken foot and suffered a broken nose. The officials flat out whiffed on two horrific personal foul calls, one of which cost the Steelers a critical player in Heath Miller. The opponent is the most devastatingly physical and impressive defensive team’s in football, except for the Steelers of course.

And the Steelers won. Champions find a way.

Honestly, this is the most impressed I’ve been with a Pittsburgh team since the Penguins beat Detroit in games 6 and 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Those were ugly games as well. Like those games, tonight was not about making pretty or stylish plays. It was about the willingness to battle non stop until the final whistle. A willingness to endure pain and injustice for 60 brutal minutes and persevere to victory. A willingness to go beyond the limits of human endurance, simply to win a football game.

It may seem trite to non football fans. To the Steeler Nation, it’s a thing of beauty.

This game was the ultimate embodiment of Pittsburgh Steeler football. A victory only true members of the Steeler nation can understand and enjoy. Let the critics bash the coaches and the refs if they want. Let Trent Dilfer mock the game as a comedy of errors on TMZSPN. Let New England and New Orleans call it ugly football.

I call it Pittsburgh Steeler football, at its best. I call it the heart of a champion. Criticize Mike Tomlin if you want but I continue to believe he is a leader of men. He sets the tone for his team. No excuses, find a way to win. It’s what separates the Steelers from so many other franchises. The goal of every game is to win at all costs, under any circumstances.

I can not overstate my pride in this performance, ugly as it was. When Joe Flacco’s final pass hit the turf, I round myself stomping around my condo, screaming with pride. I have not been this fired up about the Steelers since Santonio’s catch in the end zone in Tampa. All I could think, just as it appears on this paper was, HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO !!!

Kudos to Big Ben. For those who continue to worship one dimensional fantasy football QBs that put up stats when they don’t matter, Ben once again showed what QB play is all about. I don’t care what people think about Ben as a person; on the field he is a leader of men. If a 300 pound man punched me in the face and broke my nose, I would leave work for a week. And of course I would not be there to start with given a broken foot. That we tend to take this for granted shows how spoiled we’ve become by our QB.

Keep in mind that when plays had to be made, Ben made them. And as is so often the case in this rivalry, the overrated Flacco did not. Give me Peyton Manning in the first quarter in October; give me Big Ben in the 4th quarter in December.

Kudos to Issac Redman for not being denied. There are times when the only acceptable result is the end zone. Redman absolutely should have been tacked on the five yard line. He simply wanted it more than the Ravens.

Kudos to the defense. This was the signature performance that was so often missing last season. It was without question their best game since Tennessee. It was a statement performance by a group of men tired of being pushed around by the hypocritical NFL stance on physical football. Kudos to James Harrison for ignoring the six figure hit to his pocketbook and playing dominant physical football. Kudos to Troy Polamalu for once again showing that he is the best game changing defender in the NFL.

Kudos to Shaun Suisham. Instead of a fat tub of goo kicker that whines about his contract and the grass, we now have a man who makes kicks without excuses. Suisham’s job punting tonight should be remembered as one of the critical performances of this season. If not for the two aforementioned brainless plays on special teams, he would have twice pinned the Ravens inside the five. Welcome to the Steeler Nation Shaun.

Most important, kudos to a team that has been persecuted by the league and the officials for weeks, overcoming two horrific officiating mistakes. There is not a sane football fan on earth who can explain the personal foul calls against Harrison the last two weeks and explain missing the helmet to helmet shot on Heath Miller. And if Tom Brady were punched in the face by a 300 pound linemen, the NFL would call in a SWAT team and the Navy Seals.

I’m angry, you’re angry, the entire Steeler Nation is angry. The players and coaches are angry. And behind the leader of men that is Mike Tomlin, they overcome and win. I spent most of the game lamenting key mistakes that should have cost the Steelers the game. In the end, all I can remember is this phenomenal display of the heart of a champion.

I don’t know if the Steelers will win the Super Bowl, but they are champions at heart. Tonight was yet another reminder of why I’m so proud to be a lifelong, card carrying member of the Steeler Nation. There is simply nothing on earth like the black and gold.

Every game against Baltimore is the ultimate battle of attrition. They are games that most players and most teams simply could not handle. Somehow, someway the Steelers find a way, time after time to be the better team. I can’t explain it or quantify it, but I can define it. Simply put, it’s the heart of a champion.

Welcome Back Steelers’ Defense…We Missed You

I’m going to climb way out on a limb here and suggest that maybe, just maybe, the Steeler defense is back.

You remember that defense yes? Two years ago it was so dominant that Mike Tomlin shackled his future hall of fame quarterback; lest the offense sabotage it with even one mistimed turnover. Last year that same defense was so bad in the 4th quarter that Tomlin tried an onside kick…with the lead. The frightening thing is that all things considered, it was the right call.

Wow what a difference a year can make. Or two years in this case.

Let’s start off by acknowledging something that is now impossible to ignore. The loss of Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith was a devastating blow to last season’s defense. If we were not sure of that before Troy went flying over the Tennessee offensive line to tackle Kerry Collins, we are now.

(Editors note: As required by Pennsylvania state law, I will now acknowledge that the renowned football analyst Christopher Disque has been making that same argument for about 10 months with great vigor. As required by the marital vows I took last May, I will further acknowledge that my wife Emily has been making the same point about Polamalu since the moment he went down last season).

I admit I was hesitant to believe that losing one or two players could decimate a defense that was so dominant the previous season. I’m still not totally sure that was the exclusive issue in the demise. That being said, it’s hard not to notice Polamalu when he makes game changing interceptions in each of the first two weeks. On the other hand, you generally do not notice Aaron Smith until you realize that a record setting NFL running back was completely ineffective yesterday.

So again, just so there is no confusion in my argument, the return of Smith and Polamalu is huge. So was bringing back Bryant McFadden, providing the solid cover corner we lacked last season. That being said, I still say there is more to the story of last season’s collapse.

The Steeler defense in 2008 was the game changing, brutally physical, dominating unit we saw yesterday. They played with a chip on their shoulder about the size of say, Baltimore. That chip was missing last season. I was live on site in Chicago, before Smith went down. They were tentative and a step slow. It was not just an issue of schemes or of being less aggressive without the million dollar hair on the field.

Last week against Atlanta, the Steelers rediscovered that game changing defensive dominance. Yesterday, they rediscovered the nastiness. They chip was back, much to the dismay of Vince Young. Last year the goal was to hold a star running back under 100 yards. Yesterday the goal seemed to be giving Chris Johnson a true, physical, beat down. So much for the guy claiming he was going to run for 2,500 yards this year. That’s the Steeler defense we’ve been accustomed too since the chin showed up in 1992.

For my money, the most improved players this season are James Harrison and Lawrence Timmons.

(Editors note #2, my attorneys have advised me that I can not praise Timmons in writing without acknowledging numerous preseason emails touting his greatness from the aforementioned Christopher Disque. So it shall be written, so it shall be done).

Two years ago, Harrison was more than just a dominant linebacker. He was the baddest man on the planet. I can think of numerous painful medical procedures I would have without anesthetic as opposed to messing with number 92. You don’t win defensive player of the year by being good; you win it by being scary good.

Harrison was a seriously scary guy in 2008. And he’s a seriously scary guy now. He does not want to tackle a ball carrier; he wants to implant him in the turf. For my Penn State friends, think Big Al meets Matthew Rosenberg circa 1992.

Last year, that extra element of nastiness was missing. You can talk Troy until your blue in the face. I focused on Harrison throughout the season and he simply was not the same player. This year, he’s back in a big bad way.

The other colossAL improvement is from Timmons. That smack down he put on Johnson in the first quarter was the point where Johnson seemed to lose his mojo. Timmons was ok last season but this year he’s playing like a dominant inside linebacker and a first round draft pick. I’m not mentioning Lamar Woodley only because he’s the one linebacker I thought played to his full ability last year. Call him a push.

Let’s be honest, the Blitzburgh defense is built around the linebackers. They whole defense funnels through them. More important, those guys set the tone. You got the feeling yesterday they were trying to destroy Young, Johnson and the entire Titan offense; rather than just beat them. Of course it does not hurt that number 43 is running all over the field scaring the you know what out of quarterbacks. Maybe the entire defense, Harrison included, should start using Head and Shoulders!

I still have concerns over the age and durability of the front seven, especially the d-line. That being said, seeing young Ziggy Hood playing so well mitigates some of those fears. And to be clear, my concerns are not performance related. I’m concerned about whether they can continue to carry the team; especially with two brutally physical opponents in their first four games. That combined with the 100 degree heat issues we had yesterday and likely next weekend in Tampa.

I’m not going to spend time harping on the offense. If you take the ESPN view of football, analyzing solely based on highlights and statistics, the offense is awful. If you look at the intelligent coaching view of football, the offense yesterday was brilliant. How do I define brilliant? I define it as doing exactly what is necessary to win. And yesterday the offense did that. In short, they stayed out of the way.

There is nothing and I mean nothing good that can come from Byron Dixonbatch trying to make big plays offensively. The Steelers took one crack at that in the first two games, an open backfield set in the first quarter yesterday. The line could not block it, Dixon held on to the ball too long and worse did not feel the pressure. The result, D.Dix got creamed, Tennessee recovered a fumble and got their only meaningful points of the day. Those three points were strictly on the offense.

That play sent a clear message. When you are playing third and fourth string QBs, behind three back-up offensive linemen, you go very conservative. When you add in a defense that can dictate and win games on its own, you go beyond conservative. You flat out stay out of the way. I watched the Bears win 11 games that way with an overwhelmed rookie Kyle Orton in 2005.

Please don’t waste any time analyzing Bruce Arians’ play calling. The Steeler offense yesterday was playing the 4th line role in hockey. Get the puck in deep, forecheck, don’t make any mistakes that result in points against. In essence, their role was effectively to let the defense rest.

Can they win playing that way all season? Of course not, nor will they have to. When Ben gets back, they will return to having an effective and hopefully balanced offense. I’m not even sure they can win their next two games playing that way. Alas, that’s not the point.

The defense was dictating yesterday’s game in dominant fashion. As long as they defense kept creating turnovers and easy points, there was simply no reason to take any offensive risks. If this was the situation all season, I would have concerns. Knowing that we will add a hall of fame QB in three weeks makes this easier to accept. So does seeing the coaching staff design a brilliant kick return play that resulted in crucial, game changing early points.

(Editors note #3: I was all over Antonio Brown in training camp; he’s Shawn McEachern fast).

For whatever its worth, I would stick with Batch this week. The Steelers need a caretaker at QB the next two weeks and Batch is by far the most comfortable in that role. Regardless of Dixon’s talent, he simply does not seem comfortable the caretaker role. With all that said, I expect Lord Byron will be behind center on another hot day in Tampa.

Give Mike Tomlin huge credit for playing to the strengths of this team. We all thought the Steelers needed to survive the no Ben zone 2-2. Now 3-1 or even 4-0 is possible. If they do that, Tomlin is in line for coach of the year. Much to the chagrin of his persistent and narrow minded critics.

More important, give the defense full credit for not just beating but beating down the Titans. It was classic black and gold defense, Dick Lebeau style. It was the kind of dominating defense we’ve grown accustomed to the last 19 years, but was far too often missing last year, especially in the 4th quarter. Welcome back Steeler D, we missed you !

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO !

A Much Deserved Tribute to Hines Ward

It’s understandable that most of the Steeler Nation woke up this morning paying homage to Troy Polamalu and the defense. Yesterday was the kind of dominant, game changing performance we’ve grown accustomed to from that unit; sadly the kind that was missing for most of last season.

As for the offense, well that’s a different story.

Yes, he Steelers did exactly what we thought they had to do with Dennis Dixon at QB. They simplified the game plan and focused on the run. They did not let Dixon beat them with his arm, nor help them with his legs. If Dixon had chucked a few more balls in to the stands, we might have thought him a sleeker, modern version of Neil O’Donnell.

Amazingly, even with all those limitation, the best wide receiver in the NFL over the last decade had another huge day. And no, Randy Moss did not sign with the Steelers before Sunday’s game.

In all seriousness, has there ever been a more underrated superstar in Pittsburgh sports history than Hines Ward? With all due respect to Max Talbot of course.

I can already hear the laughter and dismissal from football fans everywhere. If I asked 1,000 non Steeler fans who was the best WR in the NFL the last decade, I doubt #86 would get a single vote. Well read carefully before you laugh my friends.

Hines Ward is a player who can not be adequately measured with statistics; at least not until they have stats for downfield blocking, decleating hits and locker room leadership. So I’m somewhat reluctant to show them here; lest we lose site of the bigger picture. That being said, looking at his stats gives some necessary historical perspective on his greatness.

One game in to his 13th NFL season, Ward eclipsed 900 catches and 11,000 yards. To put that in context consider what that translates to for an average season:

· Full career – 75 Catches, 912 Yards, 12.2 Avg, 7 TDs
· Last 9+ years (his prime) – 86 receptions, 1,043 yards, 12.2 Avg, 7 TDs

For a bit more perspective, Ward’s 901 receptions rank 12th best in NFL history. If he plays four more years and averages 52 catches per season, he will finish with the second most receptions in NFL history, at least as we stand today. That’s pretty amazing but here is another dish of shocking perspective.

John Stallworth and Lynn Swan, the two HALL OF FAME Steeler wide receivers combined…COMBINED…to catch 873 balls in their NFL careers, for 14,185 yards. Ward has already caught more balls then the two of them and could conceivably retire with more yardage as well.

I’m well aware that the NFL game has changed exponentially from 1974 to 1998. Comparing Ward to those guys is hardly apples to apples. Still, it gives you some idea of how productive Ward has been. And let’s not forget, that for most of his career in Pittsburgh, the Steelers were the NFL’s predominant running team. Yesterday’s game was a stark reminder that Ward get’s it done whether his QB is a future hall of famer or a struggling former 5th round draft pick.

Seriously, what do you think Ward could have done if he, Ben, and Bruce Arians came in to the league together?

Here are a few other numbers that are even more telling when considering a player who truly should not be measured by stats (again over 12+ years):

· Games missed – 6
· Fumbles – 10 (or about 1 season for Adrian Peterson)
· Steelers record – 117-75-1 (regular season); 10-4 (playoffs)
· Super Bowl XL MVP

Oh and did I mention that he played in Super Bowl XLIII, two weeks after sustaining a knee injury that should have ended his season.

Getting the point?

What’s truly amazing about Ward is his consistency. He’s tallied 94 or more receptions 4 times, plus two other seasons over 80 and two more over 70. He’s accumulated over 1,000 yards receiving six times and has been at 975 or higher in eight of the last nine seasons. I doubt you’ll find that kind of consistency from Chad OchoStinko or Terrell Owens. During that time he’s never once tried to run his QB out of town or publically questioned their sexuality.

And again, this is a player whose best attributes are truly difficult to quantify. Ward quite literally leaves everything on the field every week. There are so many paycheck players in sports today. Hines Ward will never be one of them. I doubt the Steelers have ever gotten less than a full effort from him. Moreover, you get the feeling that he genuinely loves playing in the NFL and especially being a Pittsburgh Steeler. We’ve grown accustomed to Ward hopping off the turf grinning from ear to ear after making a great catch, often after taking a bone jarring hit.

Ward’s biggest problem is he refuses to self promote. If he ran his mouth incessantly like T.O. or Keyshawn Johnson or was self absorbed and pouty like Randy Moss, maybe he would get more attention. Did you notice how much coverage ESPN focused on Moss, T.O., and OchoDufus yesterday? All Ward did was catch 6 balls for over 100 yards including one spectacular catch in the third quarter; all while playing with a third string QB.

Ward spent the day helping and mentoring Dixon. Moss spent the day crying about his contract. How many lousy games can Carson Palmer player before his loud mouthed WR duo turns on him?

Do you think the Steelers would have traded Ward in his prime for Moss and a first round pick? I’m guessing no way.

Remember how Plexico Burress was supposed to be the star receiver and Ward the side kick? How did that work out? Throw out the fact that Burress is an imbecile and Ward is one of the classiest players in the league off the field. Just remember that when the Steelers needed a big catch from Burress in the 2005 AFC Championship game, he dropped an easy touchdown.

Ward sometimes takes grief for opening his mouth too much, such as when he publically criticized Ben last year for not playing against Baltimore. I did not agree with his stance on the issue; but I never doubted his passion or desire. I wonder though if we have a bit of a different perspective on Ward’s comments given the ‘pay no attention to the man behind the curtain’ revealing of Ben in the last 12 months. And let’s not forget who walked on to the field with Ben on the first day of training camp this year.

Ward sometimes takes criticism for his open field hits on linebackers. I’ve heard him called a blind side, cheap shot artist. I wonder how many of those same people would kill to have Ward on his team. I wonder how many yards Bettis and Willie Parker owe to Ward’s tenacious down field blocking.

Some players talk a great game; Ward plays one. Ever wonder why the “Steeler way” has worked so well for the last decade plus? It has a lot to do with the example set by the team leaders. Ward is without question one of those guys.

Ward is not the guy who catches 80 yard touchdowns in September. He’s the guy who catches 7 balls in traffic that move the chains in December and January. That’s how he manages to have 80 receptions and 1,000 yards every year for a run oriented franchise and never get his due nationally. So be it.

What’s amazing is Ward does not always get his full due in the Steel City. Would he be on your list of the five greatest Steelers of all time? How about ten? I’m sure many people would still have him 3rd beyond Swann and Stallworth as the team’s best wide receiver. Quite honestly, I’m not sure that’s fair, especially since Ward is a guy who could play in any era. Do you have any doubt he would have succeeded in the 70’s with DBs draped all over him? I don’t. I think he would have loved it.

I’m not trying to deify Ward. He’s not perfect on or off the field. I am trying to point out a great player and a solid human being; exactly the type that is too often ignored in today’s NFL. It’s amazing how often Ward is ignored; unless a pansy Bengal or loud mouthed Raven is griping about him. The guy is the definition of a football player, especially a Pittsburgh Steeler. He’s the one wide receiver any football players would want to go to battle with.

The Steeler Nation devoted the entire 2005 season to celebrating Bettis. I wonder what they will do when #86 has his last hurrah? The day he leaves there will be a cavernous hole to fill for the black and gold.

There is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the black and gold this season, especially until #7 is back behind center. Thankfully, Hines Ward is one player they don’t have to worry about.

A Lifetime of Reasons to Believe in the Steelers

When I was growing up I often considered the possibility that from a sports standpoint, I was born ten years too late. After all, I started watching sports in 1980, one year after Pittsburgh experienced arguably the greatest decade in sports history.

Granted as my personal time clock ticks closer to 40 than 30, I’ve strongly reconsidered that stance. Of course it’s easier to do so after the Steelers double dented a quarter century championship drought and the Penguins have had two decades of unprecedented success.

Still, I remember those painful days in the 80s, desperately waiting for the Steelers to return to prominence. I knew all about the Super Steelers of the 70s but honestly, they were just characters in a movie to me. I never really saw them at their best. My early memories of football involve a washed up Franco Harris, a slowly declining Steel curtain, and Mark Malone chucking balls at everyone except his own teammates (while looking oddly like Magnum PI).

I distinctly remember the final game of the 1986 season; a horrific loss the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants. What I remember most was somebody named Scott Campbell starting at quarterback and the genuine excitement for this in the Burgh. Seriously, we were so burned out from the likes of Malone, David Woodley, and Cliff Stoudt that we were fired up for some 6th round draft choice from Purdue.

To my recollection, Campbell never played another game in the Burgh. Still, that cold Saturday afternoon in Meadowlands always seemed like a low point in Steeler history, at least from the perspective of my time on the planet.

There is a reason that those days seem so far off and distant. The simple fact is that bad Steeler teams have been a true exception in most of our lifetimes. I arrived on this earth just one day before the immaculate reception (and we wonder why I’m such a huge football fan?) which means I’ve lived at least parts of 37 football seasons. During that time the black and gold have made the playoffs 24 times.

Even more amazing, the Steelers have had only 6 losing seasons during Habertime. Do you realize that since Bill Cowher arrived in the Burgh in 1992, the Steelers have finished below 500 just twice? That’s two losing seasons in 18 years. During that period the Pirates have had ZERO WINNING SEASONS.

Honestly, those accomplishments are every bit as impressive as six Super Bowl championships and seven trips to the big game. I’m not sure there has been a consistently better team in North American professional sports in my lifetime. That includes the NY Yankees, in spite of the fact that they can all but purchase a division title in any given year.

Maybe that’s why Steeler fans are so skittish these days. Maybe that’s why one disappointing season, has caused such rampant pessimism in the Burgh. I can’t say this with any scientific accuracy but I get a sense that a lot of Steeler fans see bad things on the horizon. Not just a bad season this year but a mid 80’s style crash back to earth. That seems to be more than some in the Steeler nation can handle.

The black and gold are such an integral part of our personal identities and nobody wants to identify with a loser. One shutters to think at what would happen if the Steelers endured a down streak even as long as the Penguins did earlier this decade. I won’t even ponder Pirate like futility; lest my keyboard spontaneously combust beneath my fingers.

So let’s consider the question; are things really that bad?

Let’s start by throwing out a few obvious points:

1) Our superstar QB is suspended for four games and on thin ice with the organization and the fans. His replacements are, to say the least, less than awe inspiring. Also, our star WR bonged his way out of town…literally.

2) The defense was awful last year; especially in the 4th quarter.

3) The Steelers lost several games to truly awful teams including Oakland, Cleveland, Kansas City, and (Mayor Daley forgive me), the Chicago Bears.

To quote Kevin Bacon in A Few Good Men, “these are the facts, and they are not in dispute.”

Now let’s look at a few counter points.

1) There is nothing we can do about Big Ben but hope he’s ready to play in October and ready to accept a new lease on life. Let’s just hope that Byron Dixonwich can keep the team at 500 until Ben returns. As for Santonio, it’s a tough loss but I’ll take my chances with Mike Wallace and Hines Ward (and mercifully not Limas Sweed).

2) The defense was missing arguably its two most important players in Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith. When Smith went down in 2007, the Steelers suddenly lost the ability to defend the run (see the Jacksonville playoff game). As for Troy, he played 30 minutes of the opener against Tennessee and I think he made every tackle. I never believed one player, especially a safety, could make that big of a difference. He did.

3) The Steelers were clearly suffering from another Super Bowl hangover. Moreover, I don’t think they were ready to deal with life without a dominant defense until it was too late. See point 2 above.

Which brings us to the ultimate question, how good or how bad do things look going forward?

First, let’s assume that Ben has learned and matured after his offseason escapades. Once we get beyond Ben’s life on campus, we should remember that he’s one of the top 5 quarterbacks in the NFL, no matter how much others try to deny it. I figure Ben has at least five more years before his concussion count pushes him into retirement. That’s five more years the Steelers will put points on the board.

Second, I remain a fan of Mike Tomlin. As with everyone in sports, he has a small number of myopic critics who will never let the facts interfere with good story telling. I remind these folks that Tomlin has only three years of experience and he was the youngest coach in the NFL when hired. He should continue to improve a la Cowher, and he’s already won a Super Bowl. I don’t like how far the Steelers strayed from their identity last year but I do like Tomlin’s ability to adapt to the team’s strengths…and weaknesses.

The bigger concern for me long-term is the defense. The front seven is aging rapidly in front of us. I admit the loss of Smith hurt last year and his return should help. Let’s not forget however that older players tend to get hurt more often. The entire D-Line is over 30 and you have an aging linebacker core with Harrison, Farrior, and the back from the dead (or at least from Detroit), Larry Foote. The one young linebacker to really like is Woodley and he’s dangerously close to being a free agent.

As for Troy, he’s the true engine of the defense and his healthy return should make a huge difference. Still, let’s be honest and realize that it can’t be all Polamalu forever. It’s not a coincidence that players like Polamalu and Bob Sanders are frequently injured; both play too big for their bodies. Eventually all the big hits are going to ware him down and/or he’s going to have to change his style of play.

So in the long-term, I have concerns about the defense. In the short-term, I expect it will be significantly better than last year, which is admittedly not setting the bar all that high. If that happens, the team stays afloat without Ben, and the offense remains productive when he returns, I still think the Steelers are a legitimate contender this year. Beyond that; well who knows if we are even going to have football beyond that.

From a bigger picture standpoint, let’s remember the history I quoted above. The Steelers are not a flash in the pan situation like New Orleans or an organization built ostensibly around one player like Indianapolis. This is a team that has made the playoffs 2 out of 3 years in my lifetime. Even those downtrodden years in the 80s included four post season trips and one AFC Championship game. You don’t maintain that level of success without knowing how to find and develop talent.

I’m no different than any other Steeler fan. I dread the thought of going back to the 80’s; where a 9 and 7 season was cause for celebration. That being said, I’ll keep my faith with the black and gold. Think back to how you felt when guys like Jerome Bettis, Eric Green, Rod Woodson, Greg Lloyd and Chad Brown left town. Somehow the Steelers found a way to replace them. Just as they ultimately replaced the dynasty Steelers of the 70s.

There is a huge difference in the quality of organizations in the NFL. Just as the Steelers are consistently successful; Cleveland, Cincy, Detroit, and Arizona are consistently bad. Just as the Steelers occasionally have a bad year; those teams occasionally have success. Over the long-term; water finds its level.

The Steeler’s organization has been a constant in sports from the day I debuted the planet. I’m a benefit of the doubt guy and the Steelers have earned every bit of it from me (just as I often say the Pirates have earned none of it). Keep in mind that few of us expected a Super Bowl win in either 2005 or 2008.

So to answer my question above, I stand by my premise; if the team survives 2 and 2 without Ben they are a legitimate contender this year. It’s a thin line between success and failure. History suggests that more often than not; the black and gold are on the right side of that line.

Winners Win, Losers Blame the Ref

I have made no secret of my disdain for former Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, at least since February of 2006.

To be honest, I had little or no opinion of Holmgren before Super Bowl XL. Admittedly I found his reputation as a so called offensive genius more than a bit overstated. And I noted his striking resemblance to either a walrus or my high school soccer coach (make of that what you will). Beyond that, I truly could care less about him before that game was played.

So why do I despise him so much today? Let’s recap. That day, the black and gold finally broke their 26 year championship drought beating Seattle 21 to 10. It was one of the ugliest Super Bowls every played, unless you were from Pittsburgh. Then it was just “misunderstood.” In the end, a win is a win and a loss is a loss, except for Mike Holmgren.

The Steelers were the better team on that day. They outplayed the Seahawks, although certainly not by a wide margin. More important, Holmgren was badly outcoached by Cowher, Wisenhunt, Lebeau and company.

The Steelers completely changed their defense to a bend but don’t break strategy against the pass while shutting down Seattle’s running game. It was the perfect counter to Holmgren’s quick delivery, west coast passing system; a system ideally suited to short-circuiting the Steeler blitz. The Walrus never adapted. The Steeler coaches found a way to win on a day their QB struggled and pulled out one of the great trick plays in SB history.

Moreover on two separate occasions, Seattle looked confused and out of sorts in the two minute drill; at the end of the first half and late in the game. I amazed at how often this is overlooked, especially given Holmgren’s supposed offensive genius.

So how did Coach Walrus react to being soundly outcoached and his team being outplayed? By blaming the refs, directly, twice. It was embarrassing and pathetic for a supposed leader of men. He did it first while running off the field at halftime (even though the actual question was why did your team choke in the two minute drill). He did it a second time a few days later with his famous “I didn’t know we’d have to play against the guys in the striped shirts too” comment at the Seahawks “runners up” parade.

In that period of approximately 48 hours I lost all respect for Holmgren. In my eyes, at least as a football coach, he will NEVER get it back. Crying about the refs is a loser’s lament. I hate it when fans do it and it’s completely beneath a coach at the highest level of his profession.

Compounding my disdain was the ENTERTAINMENT and sports network in Bristol, an organization that never lets the facts get in the way of a good story. They ran with Holmgren’s crying for days, parallel to their own distorted story about the refs stealing the game from the woebegone Seahawks. Really, why worry about the facts if you can give Mike and Mike a non-story to yapp about for two weeks?

If you want to see how a real leader of men deals with outside adversity; watch the Steeler highlight video from that year. In all the complaining about a few boarder line calls against the Seahawks, everybody seemed to forget that the refs nearly kept the Steelers out of the game to begin with. Remember how they overturned Polamalu’s clear cut interception against Indy a few weeks earlier; after seeing indisputable proof that it was the correct call?

Watch the highlight video and listen to what Cowher tells his defense. He gathers them around and says (paraphrasing), “if they overturn this, we go out and play hard. We don’t worry about things we can’t control. We play.” After the game, which would have been a blowout if not for the phantom reversal, Cowher told the media (paraphrasing again), the refs are the refs. We control what we can control. He did not cry about the inequities of officiating.

I always respected Bill Cowher but my respect for him increased 1000 times that day. I’m still angry about that call in Indy four + years later and I’m just a fan. Imagine how angry Cowher must have been. That call could have cost him one of the great (and well deserved) upsets in NFL history. It could have cost him his long awaited Super Bowl win. And yet he kept his composure, accepted the situation and remained a leader of men. He did not let the officials decide the game, nor did his team. That’s what winners do.

Under far less egregious circumstances, Mike Holmgren cried and whined like a spoiled five year old.

I rehash this tail of woe today in tribute to the USA World Cup soccer team. They could easily have succumbed to the adversity of having two goals taken away from them by officials over two games. This in a sport where games are frequently won 1-0. They could have accepted a draw against Algeria and then blamed the refs, as every fan and media member is already doing. Rest assured, the ENTERTAINMENT and sports network would have been right there with them, bringing in scores of experts to bash FIFA and the refs.

Much to their credit, they did not and I could not be more proud of them as a result. Instead, they did what champions do; they overcame the officiating and found a way to win. They generated scoring chance after scoring chance and finally won on Landon Donovan’s injury time goal in the second half. It was one of the truly great moments in the history of a national team that generated far too many negative headlines at the last World Cup.

Keep this in mind as well. The USA came from 2-0 down against Slovenia which is almost unheard of in World Cup soccer. Not only were they robbed of a victory in that game, they were robbed of one of the great comebacks in soccer history. You can argue, and I won’t disagree, that they dug themselves a huge hole. That being said, give them credit for a never say die comeback for the ages. While the supposed power teams from England, Germany and Italy are underachieving and the French team embarrassed an entire nation, the USA pulled together brilliantly.

Let me clear up a few potential misconceptions before I go any further.

First, I said the USA played like champions and I meant it. Champions overcome adversity and find a way to win. That being said, I’m still not expecting our boys to win this thing. I get frustrated with the “we are happy to be here” attitude I so often hear from American soccer but I can live with the reality of it, especially given their play today.

Second, I’m not suggesting they were not angry at being robbed of two goals, nor that they should not be. The call today was boarder line; the call last Friday was a Polamalu caliber abomination of sport. Even worse was FIFA’s decision to never identify what the call actually was or admit a mistake was made. Far be it for anybody to have accountability in the most visible sporting event on the planet.

That being said, they kept their composure and played through the adversity. History suggests that’s not always the case, whether it’s bad officiating or other outside factors beyond the players’ control.

I lost a ton of respect for Dusty Baker, Moises Alou, and all of the Chicago Cubs for collapsing in the 2003 league championship, ostensibly because a fan tipped a foul ball in the stands. Alou had a temper tantrum on national TV, the Cubs imploded, and then the robotic Baker happily pinned the blame on the fan, rather than himself or his choking players.

Beyond the fact that this contributed to a criminally irresponsible media frenzy that nearly ruined the young man’s life, it also showed a total lack of character, accountability, or self respect on the part of the Cubs. No wonder they collapsed so completely in the end. Just a thought but maybe the best professional athletes on earth should be able to shake off a tipped foul ball, especially with a three run lead in the 8th inning and a 3-2 lead in the series.

So its not a given that a team will overcome outside factors. These players work their entire lives to get to this level, play their guts out and then have their efforts nullified by bad officiating. This in the biggest sporting event on the planet and the one with the smallest margin of error. If ever there was a chance for them to succumb to excuses or come unglued this was it. There is little doubt in my mind that previous USA teams would have fallen apart, even the successful teams from 94 and 06. This one did not.

Kudos to coach Bob Bradley for his leadership. I’m thrilled that the USA stayed in house rather than hiring an international ringer as coach and Bradley justified their faith. He basically told everyone to accept the situation, move on and play to win. He never lost site of the big picture.

Kudos to Landon Donovan for finally playing like the superstar he is. The best players, the Lemieux, Crosby, Malkin and the Talbots of the world come through when their team needs them the most. Donovan has been brilliant in this tournament and you get the feeling that he was not going to let his team lose today.

Kudos to Tim Howard because as we all know, the goalkeeper is a superior form of life.

And kudos to the entire team for not giving up, for overcoming adversity, and fighting to the finish. They may not win this World Cup, but during their last game and a half they played like true champions.