Troy Needs To Get Under Control

[Suitanim]

Troy is not gonna change...Cowher has even come out and said Troy plays right on the edge, and he doesn't want to do anything to take away from that...I think he has contributed far more than he has subtracted by being overly aggressive on occasion.

[Atlanta Dan]

Being aggressive without being flagged on a regular basis for personal fouls (which I recall started happening around the time of the San Diego game with Troy) would seem to be a core competency for a defensive player. These flags have not been for hits within the field of play - they have been for hits out of bounds or after the whistle has blown.

You can play on the edge without being stupid - everyone could see what was coming before the flag on Sunday but Troy went ahead and shoved the ball in the opponent's face anyhow. If you get a rep for being easily baited, opponents and the refs are not going to ignore that fact.

Joey Porter used to be the prime culprit for this sort of conduct (as he once again behaved like an 8 year old by jawing at the 45 yard line before the game on Sunday) - this attitude has spread to the extent it is costing points (the last Bengals score on Sunday) and, in the case of the Jax game where a Troy flag kept a drive going, defeats.

ESPN's Tom Jackson was no lightweight as a player and does not dislike the Steelers, but he commented on the chippiness being a problem on Sunday. When your last string DB feels a need to get into the act, as happened on Sunday, someone on the coaching staff needs to tell the players to get a grip.

[Suitanim]

Well, Cowher was asked about it, and he seemed to think that Troy making such an impact by being on edge is worth a few 15 yard penalties here and there...no offense, but I'm sticking with the coach on this one...

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

ESPN's Tom Jackson was no lightweight as a player and does not dislike the Steelers, but he commented on the chippiness being a problem on Sunday. When your last string DB feels a need to get into the act, as happened on Sunday, someone on the coaching staff needs to tell the players to get a grip.

i saw that. he pretty much said if the steelers think they are gonna talk their way to a victory and verbally intimidate the colts they are in for a rude awakining (this being said as they showed clips of the steelers jawing at the colts in their last matchup)

i agree, while joey starting crap with the opposition during pregame is entertaining and funny as hell, there is a time and place for everything. now is the time to shelf it and play ball. (i do think cowher gets a kick out of these antics and it usually gets the team fired up, but this week its time to shelf this tactic.)