lamberts-lost-tooth
10-04-2006, 07:29 AM
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Having a record of 1-2 the season after winning the Super Bowl means the Steelers need coach Bill Cowher at the top of his game.
The Steelers have to find a way to beat the Chargers in San Diego on Sunday night. Lose, and it's an uphill battle to the playoffs.
"We're in a hole digging our way out,'' guard Alan Faneca said. "When you start out 1-2, you can't leave any stone unturned. You've got to somehow turn the tide, because you definitely don't want to go 1-3.''
Cowher is on the hot seat because he's the head man in charge. He's a winner with a track record for successfully motivating his teams to focus and re-group.
His reaction to the Steelers needing to win a big game on the road is to have no reaction at all.
"I think we're fine. I don't think anybody's pushing the panic button,'' Cowher told reporters yesterday during his weekly press conference. "There's still too much football left to get caught up in all the other things except for us.''
Sorry. Wish I could tell you that Cowher leaped onto the small table in front of him, beat on his chest like a set of bongo drums and vowed to move heaven and earth in search of a victory. But Cowher isn't wired that way.
When the defending Super Bowl champions lose two of their first three games, the Steelers Nation wants trickery and gimmicks.
Cowher wants his players to look within for simple solutions.
"There's been a better sense of urgency in practices. We've got to transfer it onto the field,'' Cowher said. "This first month we've faced some pretty good football teams. We're not where we want to be. The biggest thing right now is focusing on us and continuing to get better.''
Every team is different. Every team has its own chemistry. This year's Steelers' chemistry is different from last year's team.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has played poorly, as his just-above-freezing 34.3 passer rating indicates. Roethlisberger has been off his game, but there is a need for patience after only two games (he didn't play in the opener) and everything that Big Ben has gone through. He may be struggling, but he gives his team confidence.
The Steelers will try to establish the run with Willie Parker, but they'll take shots downfield because Cowher believes in his QB. He told reporters that Roethlisberger is beginning to jell with his receivers.
Cowher relates to his players, and they play hard for him. The Steelers are strong mentally. There is a bond in the locker room that extends to the field. They believe they're better than everybody else.
"He allows us to still stay relaxed. Even though we know we have a lot of pressure on us, we don't feel that way,'' cornerback Deshea Townsend said of Cowher. "He doesn't make it where you feel too tight, where you play too tight. He does a great job of getting us prepared.''
Three other times (2002, 1997 and '93), Cowher's Steelers opened the season 1-2 and qualified for the playoffs. The record shows the Steelers will bounce back again this year, and Cowher will lead them.
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Having a record of 1-2 the season after winning the Super Bowl means the Steelers need coach Bill Cowher at the top of his game.
The Steelers have to find a way to beat the Chargers in San Diego on Sunday night. Lose, and it's an uphill battle to the playoffs.
"We're in a hole digging our way out,'' guard Alan Faneca said. "When you start out 1-2, you can't leave any stone unturned. You've got to somehow turn the tide, because you definitely don't want to go 1-3.''
Cowher is on the hot seat because he's the head man in charge. He's a winner with a track record for successfully motivating his teams to focus and re-group.
His reaction to the Steelers needing to win a big game on the road is to have no reaction at all.
"I think we're fine. I don't think anybody's pushing the panic button,'' Cowher told reporters yesterday during his weekly press conference. "There's still too much football left to get caught up in all the other things except for us.''
Sorry. Wish I could tell you that Cowher leaped onto the small table in front of him, beat on his chest like a set of bongo drums and vowed to move heaven and earth in search of a victory. But Cowher isn't wired that way.
When the defending Super Bowl champions lose two of their first three games, the Steelers Nation wants trickery and gimmicks.
Cowher wants his players to look within for simple solutions.
"There's been a better sense of urgency in practices. We've got to transfer it onto the field,'' Cowher said. "This first month we've faced some pretty good football teams. We're not where we want to be. The biggest thing right now is focusing on us and continuing to get better.''
Every team is different. Every team has its own chemistry. This year's Steelers' chemistry is different from last year's team.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has played poorly, as his just-above-freezing 34.3 passer rating indicates. Roethlisberger has been off his game, but there is a need for patience after only two games (he didn't play in the opener) and everything that Big Ben has gone through. He may be struggling, but he gives his team confidence.
The Steelers will try to establish the run with Willie Parker, but they'll take shots downfield because Cowher believes in his QB. He told reporters that Roethlisberger is beginning to jell with his receivers.
Cowher relates to his players, and they play hard for him. The Steelers are strong mentally. There is a bond in the locker room that extends to the field. They believe they're better than everybody else.
"He allows us to still stay relaxed. Even though we know we have a lot of pressure on us, we don't feel that way,'' cornerback Deshea Townsend said of Cowher. "He doesn't make it where you feel too tight, where you play too tight. He does a great job of getting us prepared.''
Three other times (2002, 1997 and '93), Cowher's Steelers opened the season 1-2 and qualified for the playoffs. The record shows the Steelers will bounce back again this year, and Cowher will lead them.