Thoughts from last night

[Fire Arians]

Well, it's hard to stay positive after last night's win, but it's not the end of the world. We might have lost but we were very much in it and stayed toe to toe with the ravens until the end and went down swinging. Here's some observations from the game:

Woodley is worth the money. Criticized heavily in the beginning of the season, and started to turn it on later. Of course, was still claimed to have only been a product of 'the system' and anyone could do what he was doing in the same position (esp. according to the woodendong report @stillers.com). Well, Jason Worilds gets a start and does very little. The team was definitely missing woodley last night.

James Harrison is back and as good as ever. I'd have to agree that his eye injury was a blessing in disguise. Harrison is back and looks to be 100% healthy. Next week vs the bengals, we can have an appropriate Steeler welcome to the NFL for the rookie qb.

Keenan Lewis needs to be the fulltime #2 CB. Not Gay bashing here, Gay is OK. He just belongs in the nickel as the #3 or #4 db. Watching him against Tory Smith last night really showed his lack of top end speed. When keenan covered the rookie, he gave up a pass, but didn't get beat deep. Lewis has the speed and physical tools to cover the speedier recievers, gay does not.

Ben needs to be given the chance to 'win' games for us. We always talk about who are the 'elite' quarterbacks in the league, and Ben always gets in the discussion. One thing in common with 'elite' qb's is that their team/coaching staff puts the ball in their hands in the final 2 minutes and trusts them to get the 1st down. They do nothing of this 'playing it safe' thing and just simply trust their best player on the team to win. If Ben is this elite qb, then our OC needs to stop with the chicken shit playcalling and let Ben win the damn game.

As much as I hate to say it, this team is better without Hines Ward. Hines Ward has been my favorite player for many years, and still is my favorite on the team. It pains me to say his career is done. Antonio Brown proved that his recent success wasn't a fluke and has played with the poise of a veteran, he is ready for prime time. Cotchery is a solid possession WR and looks like hines ward of 5 years ago (have to agree with collinsworth on that). Hines will be forever remembered as a steeler legend, but unfortunately, all good things have to come to an end.

We need to give mendenhall another shot. We need to trust in this guy to pound the rock. Yes he hasn't played well early in the season, but he will come around. I think we should run the ball a little more. It seems like right now, judging by the playcalling, that the OC doesn't have much faith in rashard to get the job done. I thought he had himself a good game vs the ravens despite having limited carries.

Offensive Line is coming around. They have been doing great since max starks came back. If they stay healthy, this unit will only get better.

The Ravens do not 'own' us. The game could have went either way and IMO this officiating crew gave us some bad calls, and a coaches challenge that should have went our way that they also dicked us out of. A third meeting will be possible and should be another nailbiter, even if it is being played in baltimore. Who knows, with the teams as evenly matched as they are, we have a 50/50 shot of it going our way next time.

I'm not ready to say it's their division yet. The ravens have had a tendency to underachieve vs. teams that they should be blowing out of the water, and I expect them to lose 1-2 more regular season games. If we can finish at 12-4, we may end up winning the division. But enough about the ravens, this week is about the Bengals, let's do this.

[DanRooney]

Woodley is worth the money or Jason Worilds sucks. Whichever way you look at it. I really hated that draft pick with a passion.

And about Hines Ward...how long have I been saying that? :-P

[Danny136200]

Originally Posted by Fire Arians

Ben needs to be given the chance to 'win' games for us. We always talk about who are the 'elite' quarterbacks in the league, and Ben always gets in the discussion. One thing in common with 'elite' qb's is that their team/coaching staff puts the ball in their hands in the final 2 minutes and trusts them to get the 1st down. They do nothing of this 'playing it safe' thing and just simply trust their best player on the team to win. If Ben is this elite qb, then our OC needs to stop with the chicken shit playcalling and let Ben win the damn game.

I dont agree with you on this one. Through out the second half, Ben was pretty much calling his own plays. And on the last offensive drive, they did go chicken shit conservative (LOL cowboys), they put the ball in their best player's hands. Its a shame though, because a dropped pass and a mis-communication costs us on that drive.

[DanRooney]

David Johnson and Mewelde Moore were great options to get that last first down!

[mizzouristeeler]

The david johnson play was a good call. He was wide open and had plenty of space. But he dropped it. What are you gonna do.

[StainlessStill]

Originally Posted by mizzouristeeler

The david johnson play was a good call. He was wide open and had plenty of space. But he dropped it. What are you gonna do.

Yep. I agree. I thought it was a nice attack, coming out passing on first down. That drop by Johnson is truly the one haunting me today. He had 8-10 yards easily on that, game over. I liked the play call on 1st down, unfortunately, we didn't make the play.

[Fire Arians]

Originally Posted by mizzouristeeler

The david johnson play was a good call. He was wide open and had plenty of space. But he dropped it. What are you gonna do.

true. if he caught the ball he had some room to run, that could have sealed the game right there if he held on

[casteeler]

I don't understand why Lewis and Gay are CBs on a team that really wants to be a contender or an elite team. The Ravens converted on 14 of 21 3rd down attempts and the last drive the Ravens didn't even have to Burn their final T.O as they easily marched 92 yards to score the winning TD. The secondary has been a problem for the past few years, why isn't this addressed?

[SoCalFan]

Ward has made so many key catches for us,how could you discredit that? Yea,maybe downgrade him to a more limited role,blocking situations and 3rd & longs mainly! Nobody I want in the lineup more to go across the middle! I dont know how he does it but he gets separation!

[Sixburgher]

Originally Posted by Fire Arians

Ben needs to be given the chance to 'win' games for us. We always talk about who are the 'elite' quarterbacks in the league, and Ben always gets in the discussion. One thing in common with 'elite' qb's is that their team/coaching staff puts the ball in their hands in the final 2 minutes and trusts them to get the 1st down. They do nothing of this 'playing it safe' thing and just simply trust their best player on the team to win. If Ben is this elite qb, then our OC needs to stop with the chicken shit playcalling and let Ben win the damn game.

That's kinda why Ben was throwing with 2-3 minutes left, as opposed to running it 3 times up the gut and punting like Cowher would've done. The players need to execute. In other words, Johnson needs to hold onto the damn ball when it hits him in the hands and Moore needs to get turned around when the ball is headed his way. Ben was given every opportunity to win the game and came up one first down short.