KILLERSteelers77
08-10-2005, 09:37 PM
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not going to the Super Bowl.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not winning the AFC North.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not making the playoffs.
When you think of the Steelers' success a year ago, when they went 15-1 and lost to the Patriots in the AFC championship game, you think of a smash-mouth running game where Jerome Bettis sipped from the fountain of youth, and a fantastic Ben Roethlisberger shined in his rookie season.
The Pittsburgh running game, however, will take a major step back this year.
There are three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and Duce Staley will get hurt. Bill Cowher spent all last week telling everyone that Staley's knee was nothing to worry about. Staley spent the ensuing Monday undergoing knee surgery to repair a tear. You cannot count on Staley, even when he comes back.
Bettis was a guest on my radio show in March, and described how while last year was special, he doesn't think he could carry the load in 2005, and how he really doesn't want to. Sure, 2004 undrafted free agent Willie Parker gained 102 rushing yards against Buffalo in Week 17 last year, but 58 of those were on one play. Verron Haynes is what he is; a nice third-down back.
But here's the reality: A team that wins and sets everything up based on the run doesn't have a legit starting running back. Plus, the team is starting Max Starks at right tackle, and he was your typical boom-or-bust lineman at Florida. The Steelers losing tackle Oliver Ross to Arizona will also hurt.
Hines Ward is a no-show at Steelers camp, rightly upset he isn't getting a new contract after the Rooney family and Cowher promised him he would get one, and get fair market value. Then the Steelers insult him by floating to the public that they offered Ward the highest signing bonus in Steelers history.
That's nice. Who cares? It's 2005. Ward should be making more money than Isaac Bruce and Eric Moulds. He's the perfect receiver for the grind-it-out Steelers. Ward affects the Steelers every time the ball is snapped. He's got very sure hands, runs hard patterns that juke defenders, is a fantastic run blocker, and loves laying out defenders, hurling his body at potential tacklers.
Ward never complains about not getting the ball, as he is a rare bird who genuinely just wants to win. Ward defines Steeler football. The Steelers currently aren't even talking about a new deal with Ward and his rep, and the players are frustrated at management that their leader is nowhere to be found. His absence hurts the Steelers offense in every possible way. This really touches Roethlisberger getting ready for year No. 2. He has asked the very smart offensive coordinator Ken Wisenhunt to throw the ball more. That's tough to do when Ward is out, Plaxico Burress is with the Giants, and Ced Wilson is the replacement.
Know this: every team in the AFC North is better than they were in 2004.
The Ravens will have a special defense this year and will win the division. This secondary has a chance to be one of the greatest in years. I watched this team practice last week and the secondary is already in midseason form. Ed Reed, a game changer, is the best defensive player in the league not named Peppers. Chris McAlister is focused after contractual distractions last year. CB Samari Rolle was one of the best pickups in free agency. Underrated safety Will Demps was flying all over the field. And oh by the way, Dale Carter and Deion Sanders are there, too.
I spent 15 minutes with an all-fired-up Ray Lewis, who told me he's never trained harder in an off-season, sparked by media criticism that he's lost a step. I'd be afraid. Lewis and Adalius Thomas will be even better in the 4-3 defense. Kelly Gregg isn't big, but he's a tough-as-nails defensive lineman that defensive coordinator Rex Ryan adores. Ryan will use some of Papa Buddy's 46 defense to make this talent even more unpredictable.
This isn't your older brother's Ravens. Brian Billick's got a great new offensive coordinator in Jim Fassel, a smart quarterbacks coach with Rick Neuheisel, and a brand new weapon in former Titan Derrick Mason, who caught 96 balls last year and had good chemistry with Kyle Boller last week at camp. Boller has the talent and brains around him to succeed, much like Big Ben did last year.
The Bengals are going to be a playoff contender. Yes, the Bengals, as they return 11 starters on offense, including Chad Johnson, Rudi Johnson and Carson Palmer, who together are on the verge of something special.
Cleveland won't win many games, but when you are coached by Romeo Crennel, and add leaders like Joe Andruzzi and Trent Dilfer, the Browns will be in every game.
When you dive deeper into the Pittsburgh schedule, you will find very few cupcakes. The Lions, Bears, and Texans are all clearly improved. New England is New England. And the Chargers just might be the most balanced team in the AFC.
In addition, so many teams in the AFC rightly believe this is their year. New England, Buffalo, the Jets, the aforementioned teams in the North, the Colts, Texans, Jaguars, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders and Broncos are all very capable of eight or more wins. For Pittsburgh, it was a near-perfect ride one season ago.
Eight or nine wins seem much more realistic this time around.
The Bus stops here.
Man these problems are worrying ME!!
LINK (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3879518)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not winning the AFC North.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not making the playoffs.
When you think of the Steelers' success a year ago, when they went 15-1 and lost to the Patriots in the AFC championship game, you think of a smash-mouth running game where Jerome Bettis sipped from the fountain of youth, and a fantastic Ben Roethlisberger shined in his rookie season.
The Pittsburgh running game, however, will take a major step back this year.
There are three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and Duce Staley will get hurt. Bill Cowher spent all last week telling everyone that Staley's knee was nothing to worry about. Staley spent the ensuing Monday undergoing knee surgery to repair a tear. You cannot count on Staley, even when he comes back.
Bettis was a guest on my radio show in March, and described how while last year was special, he doesn't think he could carry the load in 2005, and how he really doesn't want to. Sure, 2004 undrafted free agent Willie Parker gained 102 rushing yards against Buffalo in Week 17 last year, but 58 of those were on one play. Verron Haynes is what he is; a nice third-down back.
But here's the reality: A team that wins and sets everything up based on the run doesn't have a legit starting running back. Plus, the team is starting Max Starks at right tackle, and he was your typical boom-or-bust lineman at Florida. The Steelers losing tackle Oliver Ross to Arizona will also hurt.
Hines Ward is a no-show at Steelers camp, rightly upset he isn't getting a new contract after the Rooney family and Cowher promised him he would get one, and get fair market value. Then the Steelers insult him by floating to the public that they offered Ward the highest signing bonus in Steelers history.
That's nice. Who cares? It's 2005. Ward should be making more money than Isaac Bruce and Eric Moulds. He's the perfect receiver for the grind-it-out Steelers. Ward affects the Steelers every time the ball is snapped. He's got very sure hands, runs hard patterns that juke defenders, is a fantastic run blocker, and loves laying out defenders, hurling his body at potential tacklers.
Ward never complains about not getting the ball, as he is a rare bird who genuinely just wants to win. Ward defines Steeler football. The Steelers currently aren't even talking about a new deal with Ward and his rep, and the players are frustrated at management that their leader is nowhere to be found. His absence hurts the Steelers offense in every possible way. This really touches Roethlisberger getting ready for year No. 2. He has asked the very smart offensive coordinator Ken Wisenhunt to throw the ball more. That's tough to do when Ward is out, Plaxico Burress is with the Giants, and Ced Wilson is the replacement.
Know this: every team in the AFC North is better than they were in 2004.
The Ravens will have a special defense this year and will win the division. This secondary has a chance to be one of the greatest in years. I watched this team practice last week and the secondary is already in midseason form. Ed Reed, a game changer, is the best defensive player in the league not named Peppers. Chris McAlister is focused after contractual distractions last year. CB Samari Rolle was one of the best pickups in free agency. Underrated safety Will Demps was flying all over the field. And oh by the way, Dale Carter and Deion Sanders are there, too.
I spent 15 minutes with an all-fired-up Ray Lewis, who told me he's never trained harder in an off-season, sparked by media criticism that he's lost a step. I'd be afraid. Lewis and Adalius Thomas will be even better in the 4-3 defense. Kelly Gregg isn't big, but he's a tough-as-nails defensive lineman that defensive coordinator Rex Ryan adores. Ryan will use some of Papa Buddy's 46 defense to make this talent even more unpredictable.
This isn't your older brother's Ravens. Brian Billick's got a great new offensive coordinator in Jim Fassel, a smart quarterbacks coach with Rick Neuheisel, and a brand new weapon in former Titan Derrick Mason, who caught 96 balls last year and had good chemistry with Kyle Boller last week at camp. Boller has the talent and brains around him to succeed, much like Big Ben did last year.
The Bengals are going to be a playoff contender. Yes, the Bengals, as they return 11 starters on offense, including Chad Johnson, Rudi Johnson and Carson Palmer, who together are on the verge of something special.
Cleveland won't win many games, but when you are coached by Romeo Crennel, and add leaders like Joe Andruzzi and Trent Dilfer, the Browns will be in every game.
When you dive deeper into the Pittsburgh schedule, you will find very few cupcakes. The Lions, Bears, and Texans are all clearly improved. New England is New England. And the Chargers just might be the most balanced team in the AFC.
In addition, so many teams in the AFC rightly believe this is their year. New England, Buffalo, the Jets, the aforementioned teams in the North, the Colts, Texans, Jaguars, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders and Broncos are all very capable of eight or more wins. For Pittsburgh, it was a near-perfect ride one season ago.
Eight or nine wins seem much more realistic this time around.
The Bus stops here.
Man these problems are worrying ME!!
LINK (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3879518)