By Jeffrey Burton
There are a number of things missing from the Steelers this season. The first one I noticed from game one was Hines Ward’s smile. He was on the field before the game, no smile. He made a catch, no smile. All game, all the time, no smile. The next game, no smile. All game, all the time no smile.
Yesterday in a losing effort against the Bengals, a slight smile when he passed the 10,000 yard mark. A small ordinary human smile, not a Hines Ward, light up the world, endorphin releasing smile that you can’t help but smile in return when you see it. If I was Mike Tomlin I would hire a hundred Private Investigators, the FBI and the National Guard to find Hines’ smile. We will not be able to win without it.
Also missing is Santonio Holmes’ hands. The most sure-handed widereceiver in the league for my money is looking like Limas Sweed, who after today, I’m ready to give up on. I hope he hasn’t returned to Ricky Williamsland. I don’t think the Steelers would give even him a second chance.
Also MIA is Harrison and Woodley’s domination on the edge. Harrison had a good rush today and Woodley had a good one against the Bears, but by and large they are not factors in the games we’ve played so far.
Rashard Mendenhall, MIA, is he already perceived as a bust by the Steelers?
This is a bigger problem because the Steelers seem stuck on only using the same 13 or 14 people on offense. They are not shifting personnel in and out to give different options and skill sets to Big Ben. Why do they insist on trying to use Willie Parker as an every down back? He is not built for it and though he had a good day against the Bengals, he will break down like he always does. He is a feature back, use him like that, please.
Mewelde Moore, mostly MIA. I don’t understand why he doesn’t get more touches. All he ever does is make positive yardage and plays when he is in.
That is a good thing, isn’t it?
Why don’t we ever see Shaun McDonald? He was very good possession receiver in preseason and for the Lions. Shouldn’t we be getting these types of guys in for a couple downs a game, if not to see what they can do at least to give them a little playing time if they’re needed later in the season?
One of the biggest mysteries to me is why Issac “Redzone” Redman isn’t on the roster. I can’t believe he cleared waivers. If I was a NFL Head Coach I would have had his number on speed dial. Has Frank Summer’s lack of blocking ability and obviously being in way over his head, become such a source of amusement to the Coaching Staff that they can’t demote him to the Practice Squad and bring Redman up? I liked what I saw in Frank in college and had him in my Mock Draft. I think he will eventually develop, but he is not there yet. I think that keeping him on the Roster is actually hurting him at this point.
Please, let him develop at his own pace Steelers Staff.
In spite of a good effort today, the Non-Offensive Line is missing as usual. They are not a starting NFL O-line. I would welcome them as the second string with the exception of Justin Hartwig, who I think has been a great upgrade at Center and Willie Colon who would be a fine Right Guard, but is a bad Right Tackle. I don’t know why the Staff can’t see it. And as I said in my previous Blog “Steelers Offensive Line is the New Kordell?” enabling is bad.
Of course the biggest MIA is the easiest to understand, after burning it up for his entire effort in the season opener, Troy Polamalu went down with a knee injury.
Tyrone Carter’s hard and gutsy play is about as good a replacement you could get, but Troy’s Super-Human presence is badly missed.
There have been some good things. I almost like Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians’ play calling. He’s not yet the Three Rivers River Boat Gambler that Whisenhunt and Gailey embodied, but he’s now calling to win the game rather than to not lose his job. Hey, Chan Gailey is no longer employed as an Offensive Coordinator, maybe that is motivating Bruce.
Mike Wallace rocks, but another mystery is here. Ben, why do you always throw your passes to Wallace one inch above the turf? Isn’t the whole point of having a guy with blazing speed to let him run and hit him in stride? You know, like the ones you hit Limas Sweed with that he drops? We got a glimpse of that today and I hope we see it more. To Wallace’s credit he has shown exceptional hands and very good route running, things that most of the scouts thought he would have to develop.
Stefan Logan looks like the Brother from Another Mother to Darren Sprolles. Get him in the game! Get him the ball in space let him run! Line him up as a running back in play action! Screw with Defensive Coordinator’s heads! Let Stefan run! Run Stefan Run!
And finally, one thing that is very much not missing is Casey Hampton’s gut. It is so huge he actually waddles. He has gotten to the Quarterback twice this year and would have got to them more if they couldn’t walk away while he was running after them. This super-sized Casey’s gut is so big it looks like he’s ready to give birth to a normal sized Casey Hampton and maybe that would be a good thing. I’m pretty sure that the NFL has no rules about having one guy giving birth to another version of himself and having both play on the field at the same time. Maybe that is what we need until Troy gets back.
Well as you can tell, these mysteries are beyond me and since Barack Obama came out that he was pulling for the Steelers in the Super Bowl and has appointed Mr. Rooney as Ambassador to Ireland, the FBI and National Guard involvement in the ‘Hines Ward Missing Smile Case’ seems a very reasonable thing to ask. The Steelers Coaching staff needs to foot the hundred Private Eyes bills.
Go Stillers!
About the Author Jim McMillen
The Editor & Chief, the brains so to say, behind Pittsburgh Blitz. Jim is a rabid sports fan who just loves his Stillers, Pens and Buccos. Feel free to contact us at steelerguy26[@]yahoo.com if you have any questions or comments or would like to join our staff and write for Pittsburgh Blitz.
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