83-Steelers-43
11-26-2006, 06:35 AM
Head to Head: Steelers special teams vs. Ravens return specialist B.J. Sams
Sunday, November 26, 2006
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Go ahead, pick the poison.
The staggering number of turnovers -- 27 -- more than any other team in the National Football League.
The inconsistent play of Ben Roethlisberger, who has thrown more interceptions (17) than Bubby Brister did in a season.
A pass defense that has allowed 14 touchdowns, as many as it did all of last season.
None of those, though, disappoint Bill Cowher like the performance of his special teams, which have been anything but special in 2006. In particular, Cowher can't believe the work of the kick-coverage unit, which, statistically, is the worst in the NFL.
"Our coverage team has not been very good," Cowher said.
The Steelers allow opponents the best average starting field position in the league -- 31.6 -- and no wonder: In their past seven games, they have allowed five returns of 45 yards, including four over 50. The longest and -- at the time -- most debilitating came a week ago in Cleveland when Joshua Cribbs appeared to end their season with a 92-yard kick return for touchdown to give the Browns a 20-10 lead with 9:33 remaining.
"It seems like there have been those one or two returns every game and that's not acceptable at this point," Cowher said.
Kick returns are a lot like tax audits -- there is never a good time to have one. And certainly the Steelers will not be able to afford another today in Baltimore.
The Ravens might not have the best dual returner in the league, but they have, in B.J. Sams, the hottest. And most entertaining.
Sams had 212 yards in returns a week ago in a victory against the Atlanta Falcons -- 121 on punts, 91 on kicks -- the fourth-highest single-game total in franchise history.
His 59-yard kick return that set up a touchdown was outdone only by his 59-yard punt return in which he spun, twisted and darted up the middle of the field and, by Cowher's estimation, "must have made six or seven people miss."
"I think he'll be on ESPN all week," said Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce.
Curiously, Sams was having just a modest season until the Falcons game. Now he ranks sixth in the NFL in kick returns (26.0 yds.), third in the league in punt returns (12.5 yds.).
"There's never a good time for a long return, even if you're up by 30," said special-teams co-captain Clint Kriewaldt. "But it's definitely the very worst time we're letting it happen."
Containing Sams will be every bit as essential for the Steelers as stopping quarterback Steve McNair, locating safety Ed Reed and controlling defensive end Adalius Thomas.
In four games against the Steelers, Sams' longest kickoff return is 42 yards. But he has punt returns of 33 and 30 yards against them.
"He has the ability to stop and start and always cut when he's moving full speed," special teams standout Sean Morey said. "That's difficult to do. He's a complete returner."
Cowher indicated he will make changes to the kick-coverage unit in an attempt to find the right people to stop the glut of long returns. The easy answer is to use more starters, only two of whom -- safety Ryan Clark and cornerback Ike Taylor -- are employed on kick coverage.
"I'd be remiss if I didn't say we need to come faster and be more aggressive and force the issue," Morey said.
"Most of it is just effort," Kriewaldt said. "And I don't think we've had a lot of it."
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06330/741269-66.stm
Sunday, November 26, 2006
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Go ahead, pick the poison.
The staggering number of turnovers -- 27 -- more than any other team in the National Football League.
The inconsistent play of Ben Roethlisberger, who has thrown more interceptions (17) than Bubby Brister did in a season.
A pass defense that has allowed 14 touchdowns, as many as it did all of last season.
None of those, though, disappoint Bill Cowher like the performance of his special teams, which have been anything but special in 2006. In particular, Cowher can't believe the work of the kick-coverage unit, which, statistically, is the worst in the NFL.
"Our coverage team has not been very good," Cowher said.
The Steelers allow opponents the best average starting field position in the league -- 31.6 -- and no wonder: In their past seven games, they have allowed five returns of 45 yards, including four over 50. The longest and -- at the time -- most debilitating came a week ago in Cleveland when Joshua Cribbs appeared to end their season with a 92-yard kick return for touchdown to give the Browns a 20-10 lead with 9:33 remaining.
"It seems like there have been those one or two returns every game and that's not acceptable at this point," Cowher said.
Kick returns are a lot like tax audits -- there is never a good time to have one. And certainly the Steelers will not be able to afford another today in Baltimore.
The Ravens might not have the best dual returner in the league, but they have, in B.J. Sams, the hottest. And most entertaining.
Sams had 212 yards in returns a week ago in a victory against the Atlanta Falcons -- 121 on punts, 91 on kicks -- the fourth-highest single-game total in franchise history.
His 59-yard kick return that set up a touchdown was outdone only by his 59-yard punt return in which he spun, twisted and darted up the middle of the field and, by Cowher's estimation, "must have made six or seven people miss."
"I think he'll be on ESPN all week," said Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce.
Curiously, Sams was having just a modest season until the Falcons game. Now he ranks sixth in the NFL in kick returns (26.0 yds.), third in the league in punt returns (12.5 yds.).
"There's never a good time for a long return, even if you're up by 30," said special-teams co-captain Clint Kriewaldt. "But it's definitely the very worst time we're letting it happen."
Containing Sams will be every bit as essential for the Steelers as stopping quarterback Steve McNair, locating safety Ed Reed and controlling defensive end Adalius Thomas.
In four games against the Steelers, Sams' longest kickoff return is 42 yards. But he has punt returns of 33 and 30 yards against them.
"He has the ability to stop and start and always cut when he's moving full speed," special teams standout Sean Morey said. "That's difficult to do. He's a complete returner."
Cowher indicated he will make changes to the kick-coverage unit in an attempt to find the right people to stop the glut of long returns. The easy answer is to use more starters, only two of whom -- safety Ryan Clark and cornerback Ike Taylor -- are employed on kick coverage.
"I'd be remiss if I didn't say we need to come faster and be more aggressive and force the issue," Morey said.
"Most of it is just effort," Kriewaldt said. "And I don't think we've had a lot of it."
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06330/741269-66.stm