Aaron Smith, my eyes are on you...

[jtbsteeler]

This guy has been getting a pass in my opinion. That needs to end this Sunday. I'll be keying in on him exclusively Sunday. I like the guy but love my team. Team comes first with me.

The local media is starting to take notice, and that's always good because they're the ones who hold Tomlin's feet to the fire when he makes Bill Cowheresque decisions with his personnel.

Chat transcript from Dejan Kovacevic(Tribune) chat yesterday. The question was about Smith getting plowed:

"
Dejan Kovacevic: With an elite talent -- and Smith absolutely qualifies -- I'm always inclined to give benefit of the doubt. Smith has been an enormous part of the Steelers' defense for a long time, bigger than most seem to realize. He could take out two offensive players on every play, thus freeing up linebackers.

He has not played well in these three games. In Indianapolis, I saw the Colts willfully running to -- and through -- his side, something you'd never see before. As a result, I'll be surprised if we don't see more of Ziggy Hood and/or Cam Heyward very soon, if not in Houston.

But yeah, Smith looks old right now. Really does"


Read more: Dejan Kovacevic chat transcript - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt...#ixzz1ZQSXiaSA

[Atlanta Dan]

Keisel will be out again in Houston (he has not practiced all week) but when Keisel returns IMO Hood starts over Smith

Steelers have been in denial about Smith having broken down

[Brett Cottrell]

Hood is a BEAST and should be starting.

[effyou515]

bring on the mighty Ziggy Hood.

[FanSince72]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

Keisel will be out again in Houston (he has not practiced all week) but when Keisel returns IMO Hood starts over Smith

Steelers have been in denial about Smith having broken down

Maybe denial is part of it but I think a lot of it is just Smith himself.
It's not that he doesn't want to try, I think it's more about the injury itself.

Let's face it, whatever he did with that arm was a big part of his playing style and I don't care how tough someone is, if you see yourself in the same situation or position in which you tore up your arm, you're going to back off a bit out of fear of re-injuring it.

That's just human nature.

And if you get to the point where you have that in the back of your mind, it's going to take away from your ability to perform at a high level and when that happens -- it's time to hang it up.

[DanRooney]

Originally Posted by Brett Cottrell

Cameron Heyward is a BEAST and should be starting.

Fixed.