The Fall of Troy

By Jeffrey Burton

This was not the season we hoped for our Steelers. There are some good things that happened. We ended on a three game win streak, but this was not been our season of steely resolve. 

Moving forward:

There are many reasons this happened:

Things that could have been avoided:

The Worst Offensive Line in the History of Football

Maybe an exaggeration, but not that much of one.  This line sucked last year and should have been shored up in the off-season. No major moves were made. Offensive Line Coach Larry Zierlien and special team’s coordinator Bob Ligashesky have lost their jobs. I wish I could say I was sorry to hear it.

The lousy Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians, I hear disturbing rumors will be retained, more on him in a second.

The Cleveland Browns one of the worst pass rush teams in the league, ignored our non o-line and delivered 8, count them, eight sacks on Ben. Eight sacks, 8 sacks! Ocho sackos!  Imagine people looking at someone in a bar jumping up and down yelling at the top of their lungs, making Hitler-like gestures, “EIGHT SACKS! 8 M-EFFING SACKS! HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN! Over and over again and them concurring, “Oh yes good sir, how could that M-EFFING happen?”

This has been shear insanity and would be criminal if it happened off the football field. The Coaches, the General Manager, the Rooney’s and the entire Steeler Organization would all be found guilty of criminal conspiracy to commit violent abuse in the real world.

I don’t care if Ben defends his linemen; plenty of abused people defend their abuser. It has affected his play and he has admitted it publicly now.  The Steeler Organization is supposed to help Ben be safe. They have failed beyond any failure I have ever seen in my long relationship with this team.

They actually out did there sack totals of last year with 50. Only Green Bay allowed more with 51. Oh and 77 hits on the QB. Maybe the Steelers accountant should take over the coaching duties; at least heshe would understand the meaning of protecting your investment.

I’m sick of writing about this. Please make it go away.

Non-existent Running Game:

I know that Rashard got to have a 1,000 plus yard season, but we never run when we should and we do not run enough. This terrible pass offensive line is average or a little above average in run blocking. They should have tried to make it work.

Rearranging Deck Chairs:

Arians should have been fired during the 5 game losing streak. He is so predictable it is ridiculous. If he brings in a sub the ball goes to that person on the first play. He has no concept of using someone as a decoy. If it wasn’t for Ben’s incredible play we wouldn’t have done anywhere near to as well as we did. Not that is was all that good.  Firing Zierlien without firing Arians is like returning your soup as the Hindenburgh docks because it’s too cold.

Things that Couldn’t be Avoided.

All of the Injuries on Defense:

I’m quite happy of our beloved Steelers ability to hang together with all the injuries they’ve had on defense. Arron Smith, Travis Kirschke, Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Clark, William Gay (I know Haters, hate away. He’s starting in his second season in an extremely difficult position), and the hugest of the huge, Troy Polamalu. There was no finger pointing for any loses. This is a testament to Defensive Team Captain James Farrior and more importantly Dick LeBeau. If we have all these guys on the field for the season we are most certainly in the playoffs and well seeded.

Jeff Reed is definitely on drugs, probably weed:

When you are all toked up in a game it must be like, “Dude why are these guys running so fast? Where are the HoHo’s? Why do they want me to hit this guy? He didn’t do anything to me other than run my lousy kick-off back for a touchdown. I wonder if RealTurf has RealGrass in it. Hey guys, anyone wanna’ try? What? You want me to kick this thing through those yellow sticks? I’m totally baked man.”

Or maybe he’s on Crack, or Crystal Meth, I don’t know.

We should be looking for another kicker in the off-season. Let him commit totally to the bender that he will wake up from someday and say “WTF?”

I don’t know maybe that one could have been avoided.

The Good Things!

Mike Wallace has made the conversion from incisive TV journalist and interviewer to a NFL Star on Rise. I can’t wait to see where he is at next season.

Rashard Spindenhall has emerged as an incredibly gifted featured back. He has skills on the outside and inside I didn’t know he had and can catch out of the backfield.

Ziggy Hood; His play stepped up as he got more time.

Aaron Smith and Troy will be back and boy do we need them.

Most of our Super Bowl team will be back. Yeah we are getting a little old on defense, but hopefully we get some new blood via free agency and the draft. Our guys still have plenty left in the tank.

Observations and Questions:

Daniel Sepulveda is the best player we have on defensive special teams. He is not only one of the best Punters in the league he is one of the best special team’s tacklers. One of the many differences between Reed and Sepulveda is that Daniel is a football player and not a stoner.

Casey Hampton and Willie Parker are all but gone. Hampton was never a favorite of Tomlin, who dislikes his work ethic. Wait, what work ethic? Willie has had a season to rest and wants to vie for a starting job somewhere. Hey Mister Tomlin, Chester Taylor is a free agent next year couldn’t we use another veteran back that can run between the tackles and catch out of the backfield?

Let’s bring up Isaac “Redzone” Redman. Couldn’t we have used some help in the Redzone this year?

Stefan Logan was responsible for the most yardage on the team for a ground player this year, 1746 total return yards. Could we get him on the field more, please?

I would rather have Big Ben and Heath than any other QBTE combo. The Pro Bowl voters must be smoking whatever Jeff Reed is.  I voted for them.

2010 Draft Sneak Preview

I can’t spill all of my Little Big Board now; I need something to write about in the off-season. (Or a girlfriend, or both, maybe a Stillers Girl. Did you know the Steelers have the most female fans? Second is the Cowboys, there’s no accounting for taste, but Texas girls are hot. So are Steelers girls, but I now digress.)

Round One – LG Mike Lupati, Idaho, The Samoan American is a dominating LG that is great in pass protection and the pulling and trapping that has been the staple of the Steelers for years. Since Faneca left we haven’t been the same. It is time to return to Steelers Football with a great air game as well.

Round Two – NT Dan Williams, Tennessee, Hampton is gone, Chris Hoke can step in and give time to Williams so he can develop into a starter for his second season.

Round Three – RT Kyle Calloway, Iowa, and this guy could be tremendously athletic at RT and allow Willie Colon to move inside to his natural RG position where his lack of vision would not be so much of a detriment. So this is a two for one pick. Oh, Kyle was pulled over for driving a moped intoxicated. I’m sure this is only against the law in Iowa, along with cow tipping.

Round Four – S Nate Allen, South Florida, I don’t know if he’ll still be available so I have T.J. Ward of Oregon as a back-up pick. I think the Steelers are crazy if they let Ryan Clark walk, but I’ve seen it time after time.

Round Five – DE Alex Carrington, Arkansas State, we need to build on our great but aging line. Alex could be a very good fit for the 3-4.

Round Six – S Kyle McCarthy, Notre Dame or LB Joe Pawelek, Baylor, two classic overachievers that could be good late round finds for the Steelers.

Round Seven – WRQBPH-BPKH Kerry Meier, Kansas, most of the Mocks have him as undrafted. I say use the last pick on the Jayhawk Slash. We could be adding a guy that would actually know that you shouldn’t throw a long pass across field into double coverage even though the Genius Bruce Arians designed the play for you (Santonio). This guy has a great attitude and hands of Velcro.  And he’s from Pitsburgh. Yeah, I spelled that right, Pitsburgh, Kansas. I think we should give him the opportunity to get the extra ‘T’.

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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