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Loss to Bungles Hurts Pride, Little Else as Steelers Earn Top Seed Article by McMillen & Wife Consider this: Kurt Warner threw 4 INT's in the Rams' week 7 loss to the Saints, a game in which the Rams jumped out to a huge 24-6 first half lead. But much like the Steelers this past Sunday in Cinci, the Rams relaxed slightly in the 2nd half and abruptly surrendered 25 unanswered points before they could regain their composure. Final score: New Orleans 34, St. Louis 31. My point? IT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE. Don't let losing an almost meaningless game to the lowly Bungles shake your confidence in the Steelers, bruthas & sistas. Every great team drops one to an opponent they should beat now and then... that's why you can count the number of undefeated teams in NFL history on one finger. Had we lost a MEANINGFUL game in this manner amidst a playoff atmosphere to say, a team like Baltimore, I might be worried. But to the Bungles? Nah... I've seen it happen too many times before. In fact, I can remember the 5-1 Steelers losing 34-10 to the 0-6 Bungles way back in '79. Those Super Bowl-bound Steelers responded by thrashing their next four opponents (three of whom were playoff teams) by a combined score of 124-20. So relax, peeps. Top-drawer teams occasionally get lax in so-called "gimme" games... that's why "on any given Sunday" is such an oft-repeated NFL axiom. The bottom line is, Sunday's game was an aberration that we escaped from with ZERO injuries, and the loss serves as the proverbial "wake-up call" that will make the Steelers MUCH hungrier going into the post-season. There are other concrete factors to consider when digesting the significance (or lack thereof) of this loss. NO Jerome Bettis. NO Amos Zereoue. Perhaps most of all, NO resistance from Cinci early in the game. After taking an effortless 14-0 lead, the Steelers sleepwalked for the rest of the game on both offense and defense. It seemed like the Bungles lulled us into submission by looking so inept early on. They certainly had that effect on me. I watched most of the game utterly emotionless. It was downright wierd, frankly. The Steelers scored a TD? I yawned and went to the fridge to get another soda. The Steelers recovered a fumble? Hey, hand me some more chips, 'hon. Like me, the Steelers didn't seem to have their hearts in this one. Consider Kordell Stewart. After a near-perfect first half, Kordell nearly equaled his season interception total by throwing a quartet of picks (one stinker mixed in with three flukes) in the 2nd half alone. I'd also like to point out that Kordell did not run the ball even one time. That can ONLY be by design (presumably to minimize the risk of injury), because Stewart routinely gains 30-50 yards on the ground. Now consider the NFL's #1 defense allowing one of the league's WORST offenses to march 99-1/2 yards down the field for a score in the final 2 minutes of the game. Hell, imagine Jon Kitna throwing for over 400 yards against ANYONE, let alone the mighty Steelers. DeWayne Washington has been superb this season. Yet today, he was Kitna's personal whipping boy. How can this be? Simple... nothing was on the line, and the intensity simply wasn't there. In short, those weren't the REAL Steelers out there Sunday. Am I sugar-coating this? No, I'm not. I'm really not. This game amounts to little more than a pre-season scrimmage, particularly after Oakland special delivered homefield advantage to Pittsburgh with a big red bow by losing in Denver (now THERE was a monumental loss, bruthas & sistas). I'll be honest, if I was the Steeler coaching staff, I don't think I'd give this week's game film more than a cursory look. This one was a healthy lesson in the necessity of maintaining intensity... period. I guarantee this team will not lose focus like that again, folks. Write it down. I'm done... no sense in dwelling on this one. My game ball goes to Plaxico Burress for catching EVERY ball he got his hands today. On a day when most of the team failed to show up, Plex was a beacon of competence. Slowly but surely, he's winning me over. Next up: another week of "rest" vs. the Browns. Hope for a win for our second-stringers, and pray for no injuries! Until then, bruthas & sistas! Tim McMillen Webmaster, McMillen & Wife
Broken Bus, Not Poor Secondary is Reason for Loss in Cincinnati Article by McMillen & Wife Okay, let's get one thing straight right now: anyone who thinks our secondary has suddenly become this huge, glaring weakness is dead WRONG. The mantra for those embracing this theory goes something like this: "The secondary fell apart against the Vikings and Bengals! Teams that get pass-happy late in the game have been torching us." In both instances, the absence of Jerome Bettis was the catalyst, not a weak secondary. Our problems stemmed more from an offense that got WAY too conservative and WAY too sloppy late in the game than anything we did on defense. During the final 6 minutes of the Cinci game, the Bengals ran 26 offensive plays while the Steelers ran only 3 plays during the same span. 26 to 3!!! That same quarter also combined 3 consecutive Kordell Stewart interceptions with a botched onside kick. Yet we're blaming the SECONDARY??? Yeah, Washington took his lumps in this one, but no secondary on the planet could withstand that kind of relentless onslaught late in a tight, hard fought game. The defense barely had time to trot to the sideline between possessions before they had to turn around and shuffle back out on the field again. When the Steeler offense failed to score in overtime, the writing was on the wall. By that point, our defense had their hands on their hips and were sucking wind, and Cinci had the momemtum. Game over. Versus the Vikes, it was a similar situation. Yes, the defense gave up a big play on the 80-yard screen (not sure you can attribute that one directly to the secondary as much as the LBs) and a long pass to Randy Moss (admittedly, that one is on Chad Scott). But do you remember what the Jerome Bettis-less offense did during the 4th quarter? Just in case you don't, let me remind you of how our 4th quarter possessions panned out: 1-10-PIT 39: Fu up the middle for 7 yards. 2-3-PIT 46: Fu left tackle for 2 yards. 3-1-PIT 48: Fu up the middle for no gain . 4-1-PIT 48: J.Miller punts Next possession... 1-10-PIT 38: Fu left tackle for 5 yards. 2-5-PIT 43: Stewart pass incomplete to Ward. 3-5-PIT 43: Stewart pass to Zereoue for 3 yards. 4-2-PIT 46: J.Miller punts Next possession... 1-10-PIT 25: Fu right tackle for 2 yards. 2-8-PIT 27: Fu left tackle for 3 yards. 3-5-PIT 30: Fu right tackle for 3 yards. 4-2-PIT 33: J.Miller punts Next possession... 1-10-PIT 15: Fu left tackle for 3 yards. 2-7-PIT 18: Fu left tackle for 3 yards. 3-4-PIT 21: Stewart to sacked for -11 yard loss, FUMBLES, RECOVERED by Vikings at Steeler 10. Next possession... 1-10-PIT 20: Fu right tackle for no gain. 2-10-PIT 20: Fu up the middle for no gain. 3-10-PIT 20: Fu right tackle for 46 yards. 1-10-MIN 34: Stewart kneels on ball. Fortunately, the last run by Fu sealed the game. But MAAAN, what horrible, GUTLESS play calling. The bottome line: Is our secondary perfect? No. But a healthy Jerome Bettis will go a LONG way toward curing our perceived defensive problems. Had Jerome Bettis been on the field during either of aforementioned games, I guarantee you those late "collapses" would never have occured. The Good News: The Bus will be back for the playoffs, folks. If teams wanna get pass happy on us with the Bus in the game, fine. Possession minutes will be 40-20 in favor of the Steelers, and it will be the OTHER guys sucking wind late in the game. So go ahead and make those reservations for New Orleans NOW. You can trust me. Tim McMillen Webmaster, McMillen & Wife
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Folks, from some of the e-mail we're getting, I get the feeling that some of you are forgetting (or have never heard) the above truism. Wake up. The Cinci game meant literally NOTHING to the Steelers. You can talk homefield advantage, but they got that anyway, and had it been a win-or-else situation, they would have won. There's no doubt in my mind. This is a team that gets up for BIG games. Look back at the season and see when they've shined brightest. The bigger the games were, the better they played. Look at the Monday and Sunday Night wins over the Titans and Ravens. Look at the Jets game. Even in the Kris Brown-induced loss to Baltimore at mid-season, they were superb. These guys are going to the Super Bowl. It's the best team the Steelers have fielded since the glory days of the '70s. We have incredible depth, incredible talent, incredible balance and incredible team unity. They've beaten the snot out of every team they've played in a playoff-like atmosphere this season. Just wait till they feel the intensity and urgency of the playoffs. The Steelers are going to be utterly unstoppable. A healthy Bus. A healthy Amos. A rested, focused team. A defense that now has one helluva chip on its shoulder. In Pittsburgh. In January. It's gonna look like a runaway train, folks. Man, I just can't wait! I CAN'T $%#@ING WAIT! Tim McMillen Webmaster, McMillen and Wife The worst part about it is that Coach Cowher doesn't think it's a problem.That spells bye-bye Steelers in their first playoff game.Yes,we had a great season but it is over!Any team we play in the playoffs is going to pass,pass,pass and pass some more.After we are beaten in the first playoff game ,we'll all see and hear what we always hear from Cowher''it's a great learning experience for our team''.I would think by now the teams got losing down real damn good coach! I'm a diehard Steelers fan,always will be but I'm not blind to the problems they have.With the reaction from the players and coach about that game against a 4 and 10 Bunghole team,we are screwed!!Not this year people,good thing the players are at home,they won't have to go far to be in their own homes to watch the rest of the playoffs.............411 passing,126 rushing to the Bungles,NO PROBLEM?????? Pull your heads outta your asses Pittsburgh and get after that ring for REAL!.....GO STEELERS!!! But I've got to add comment on the Fortunes of the Black and Gold before I leave. I've enjoyed the Steelers season from afar here. Enjoyed seeing Kordell rise to, and then surpass his 1997 form. Enjoyed knowing that our D was number one in the league. Enjoyed or steamrolling our way to a 15th and Final Central division title (the losses to Jax and Balto not withstanding.) Along the way many of you who have seen more than the two games that I have have told me (repeatedly, in some cases,) we're/you all are for real, you've got to beleive. A good friend of mine, and a DIEHARD commited Ravens fan even sent me an E-mail after our win against the Ravens, titled, "you've got to beleive now." The win against the Ravens was impressive indeed, and he had "Un monton de reason." (Spanish for he really had alot of reason.) Great. The Steelers kicking game, poor special teams, and their seemily uncanny propensity to give up TD's in the 4th quarter. While these technical flawas are serious enough, I think they are (to one degree or another) related to more more serious, fundamental flaw. All along the way I've warned of one fatal flaw, one achilles heel. Over confidence. That's been a problem with Cowher's teams all along. If you need reassurance of what I said, remember the "Super Bowl Rap Video" incident that preceeded the stunning upset we suffered at the hands of the Chargers in the AFC Chapionship game of January 1995. Alot of things have happened to assuage me of that fear this year. This isn't a team (unlike those teams of 1993-1997) that was expected to be a contender. These are guys who know what its like to claw there way through some pretty brutal losing seasons (at least most of them.) Moreover, we've been able to win games, and do so without Bettis our best player. That says a lot. But losing a game to A Cincinnati Bengals team that not only came into the game with 4 wins, but one that seemed to be falling apart at the seams says alot too. I haven't read in detail about the loss, but it does seem like we were simply looking past this one. Miss an extra point, no big deal, we still find ways to win. Throw four picks? Well, we're ahead in the 4th, and no way a team like this can score a few quick TD's, after all, Darney Scott isn't Randy Moss, is he? And these are the Steelers, a defense that might bend in the 4th quarter, but doesn't break does it? Well, we did break. Hats off to you Paul in Cincinnati, enjoy your victory in the Queen City's annual version of the Super Bowl. There are a ton of positives that this team takes into the playoffs. What we've done this year says a lot. What happened last Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium also says a lot. It will be up to Bill Cowher and the Steelers on the field leaders to ensure that in the end, the former says more than the latter. later, KT PS For the record, I'm also critical of Cowher to rest Bettis. If he can play, let him play. I sudder to think of a rusty Bus in the Playoffs. It sounds to me like you are just dying to say "I told you so" because you don't like Stewart. He has had a wonderful year. Why some people still have it in for him is beyond me. Same Old Stewart? I don't think so. More like Same Old Spoiled Rotten Fan. Sandy The NFL is talking about trying to ban trick plays because it may cause injuries. That is a joke compared to the condition of the field at Paul Brown Stadium. I hate the Bengals but I always had respect for Paul Brown. He is probably turning over in his grave watching what his incompetent sun is doing to his team. But... the officials screw a team or two... or three or four... every week. It's a reality. I love instant replay, but the refs clearly don't. I'd suggest that they're trying to sabotage it, but let's face it... they find ways to blow obvious calls no matter what the cicumstances are. At least replay gets a few call corrected that would otherwise go the other way. You're right about Stew. He actually played a superb game intil the final few minutes. He can't be blamed for a Hail Mary pick. That's the kind of pass Kneel O'Dollar never even attempted because he didn't want to hurt his stats. Stew went for it. The receivers were to blame on that one, anyway. Hines & Plex just stood there and watched the ball come down like it was a fair catch on a punt. The pick on the deep pass to Plex is on the officials. The defender was clearly holding Burress' arm, so Plex couldn't get his arms up to even try for the ball. The officials missed the call (big shock), and it went down in the books as a pick. It was a good pass, too... the kind that Burress will get every time if he isn;t being interferred with. Stew did throw one HORRIBLE pass that was picked in the 4th, but the Bungles squadered the opportunity. My guess is that Stew didn't see the guy. He threw the ball right to him. Finally, the pick off the tipped screen is just one of those things that happens. Yeah, Stew should've gotten the ball higher, but he threw that pass the exact same way he's thrown it every time it has worked this season. The defense just hussled and made two great plays (the tip and the pick). Tim McMillen Webmaster THE GAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN OVER RIGHT THEN. BUt instead, the refs make a horrible, horrible call. And they insist the play can't be reviewed. Sounds familiar? Remember when this SAME B.S. happened last year agains Philly? So the NFL officials call in with an apology after the loss. A FRIGGIN APOLOGY. NO extra "W". No PLAYOFF BIRTH. And again it happens this year. Do you realize that if it wasn't for that stupid call last year, he would've been 10-6 and in that playoffs? ONE STUPID CALL is all it takes. And being screwed again. By the same Ref. That's not cool. I hope Jeff Tripplete isn't officiating the SUPERBOWL or any games in Pitt. He'd probably cost us the game. Remember when they used to say that about Bam Morris and Barry Foster? Or was it Erric Pegram? I can't remember. Does anyone else think these Steelers are head and shoulders above the teams from 1994-1995? I sure do. The Steelers are so balanced now. And deep. This is a Super Bowl team. I'm glad we've made the good fortune to rest these guys. Enuf rambling. Sandy Amos needs more credit than he gets. When he gets in there on third down, he can catch AND fast break. I'd start him over Chris Fu just because Zereoue can do so much more. He's a big-play threat. He can break away. The entire Cowher concept of a changeup rushing game is genius. For most downs, you have a 250 lbs back bruising DL, LBs and smashing through lines. Then for a pivotal down, you've got this fast, short, rascally little back who can blow up in a D's face. I'm sure Bettis without the changeup would still fair well. Simply because Bettis has also been proven to catch, block well, and hit wholes alot faster. Chris Fu on the other hand...the guy needs work on picking up blitzes (i.e., Rod woodson laying the smack on Kordell, running right past Fu. Twice) He can also catch. BUt the speed isn't there. He's snuffed too much. He doesn't always go for the forward pivot when getting hit. When he's stuffed, he's stuffed. but when Bettis is stuffed, he still pushes to get away with more yards. The way i see it, Fu NEEDS Amos in the changeup, or else there is no rushing game. Amos makes up for slack Fu may leave behind (i.e., 1st down run into 1st in goal in Ravens game, injures shoulder) Amos may be stopped, but when he gains and finds a whole, he capitalizes alot sooner than Fu. I'm not trying to take anything away from Fu. I think he's a strong backup and consistent power runner. But without the changeup, we won't produce the way we need to. Amos isn't the primary player in the rushing game, Bettis IS. BUt still, Amos is KEY for a rushing mix-up in order to keep a defense on it's toes. Think about how it effects the phsychie of a defender. One moment, your bracing for a hard it to endure from a big, bruising RB. ANd all of a sudden, you need to keep on your toes to chase after this little, fast back. Notice how in many games, right after a change-up, the very next running play is usually successful (i.e. Bettis in 4th Quarter against Jax, Amos screen pass TD against Titans, Bettis corner flank against Vikings in 2nd quarter, Amos in Baltimore right before injury). Easily because defenders are confused for that slight time. "Huh? How'd Bettis get so small and fast all of a sudden?" Heheh... ANyways, bottom line is: Lets hope both Bettis AND Amos are healed for the postseason. Cuz then, the running game will be up and kicking once again. Time-wise, the differential wasn't that big. The Bengals led in TOP 30:51 to 29:09. But look at the number of plays: 99 for Cinci, 65 for Pittsburgh. That is a staggering differential, and it happened because the Pittsburgh offense (which in my view is a HUGE part of our defense) couldn't sustain drives with no running game (Bettis and Amos out) and a QB that was clearly playing not to get hurt once the Steelers got the lead. The Steelers have typically been owning time of possession by at least 6-7 minutes, and have literally doubled a number of teams. That kind of offense is the best perhaps the best defense a team can have. It just wasn't there Sunday, for obvious reasons. So don't sweat it. A defense that's on the field for 100 plays is gonna wear down, and that's what we saw Sunday. Kitna did the bulk of his damage in the 4th quarter when we were sucking wind. That is NOT what we'll see from the Steelers in the playoffs. The Bengals played their BEST game of the season, and we played our worst. And the game STILL went to OT. The Steelers lead for about 58 of 60 minutes IN SPITE of throwing 4 picks, having a botched FG snap returned for a TD, missing a PAT, displaying a glaring lack of intensity, running 44 fewer plays than their opponent and giving up 544 yards of offense. Numbers like that usually result a lopsided blow-out, not an overtime thriller. Again I'll say it... IT HAPPENS. The Steelers are a SUPERB team. Don't let this game fool you. Tim McMillen Webmaster, McMillen & Wife First off, many players, coaching staff, and ESPN writers are saying "thank GOD it's not a playoff game". Very true. I think it's good for a team to get rid of a bad game out of their system before the playoffs. If you're gonna lose some time, better now then later. But still. Another important thing this game did was exploit a pittsburgh weakness that many have overlooked. The Secondary. THink about it. If John Kitna can through for over 400 yrds on the Steeler secondary, it shows just how bad it can get. Keep in mind that the Steelers did a good job containing Dillon, which is why Kitna had to go by air. As a steeler fan, my biggest honest concern is a team who would exploit the weak secondary. As seen in many games (i.e. Titans on MNF, Minns Bouman, Jax's last minute drive, Baltimore second half, Jet's second half), when a team decides to go by air in late last-minute drives, the steelers secondary completely collapses. If i was an opposing team, i'd be loading up passing plays on the steeler D. Their LB's aren't good coverage men either. This is why i fear, that if the Raider won't take 'em apart, the Rams surely will. But Tim, like you said, many other factors like NO Bettis nor Zereoue. And it being a yawn-game and all. P.S.---Hard to run, Fu or Bus when offensive line is a seive and the defensive line is in the backfield AND you run the exact same play on every first down! Pitch Right - Can't blame Brown because they top dressed the field with pig s**t. The extra point didn't hurt as bad as the bad snap on the field goal attempt. 10 pt turn around. (1) The entire "defense" - I think they gave up nearly 600 total yards today. And John Kitan was the opposing quaterback; (2) Josh Miller - that snap sailing thru his hands on the field goal ended up being a 10 point swing (assuming Brown would have made the field goal); (3) Kris Brown - in the end, that missed extra point would have been the difference; (4) DeWayne - what a HORRIBLE game he had (missed tackles, soft coverage). That ball that Farmer caught for a touchdown was up for grabs but DeWayne was doing the "Hamel Camel" in the end zone. I love DeWayne, but he was pathetic today; (5) Coaching - with 30 seconds left in the game, 2 time outs, and the ball on the 30 yard line = DON'T play for the OT coin toss and run a draw! The reason this team is in this position week after week is because they don't play to win! They play not to lose. Stop it already!!! (6) Kordell - his 4 interceptions didn't help! All of the above add up to a pathetic effort and one fan who won't be able to watch TV for the next week for fear of seeing highlights or statistics from this game! Lets face it: Fu is not that good. He really isn't. His 100 yrd game came against the lions. But against the Ravens and Bengals and Jets, about 50-60 yrds each game. Aside from Kordell throwing four picks, i think something else plays into the game. Where was Amos? Fu by himself doesn't create a rushing threat. THis means more people in coverage. What happened to the defense? They melted down more and more into the game. The secondary really needs to shape up. Kris Brown had a decent day. But missing an extra point costed the game. Today's game against the Bengals proved why I don't think the Steelers will ever beat the Rams should they get to the Super Bowl (and yes, I think they will get there). All year I've felt that our Achilles Heel was the secondary. You give an opposing QB some time and he will torch it. This happened today with Jon Kitna. If Kitna and his band of unknowns can gain over 400 yards through the air just imagine what Kurt Warner and his bunch are capable of doing. The Steelers will defeat ANY team that simply lines up and tries to slug it out with them. You cannot out-tough the Black and Gold. However, the Bengals showed today that if you come out with guns blazing you can emerge with a win. Again, I hope I'm wrong. Today's game wasn't pretty especially for our defense. Tim Lewis needs to put them through some hard practices next week. P.S.---Even though Purple Turd has no right to criticize (his team provided the Lions AND Panthers with their only wins of the season) this game should have been a slam dunk for the Steelers. Not only did the Steelers lose they were thoroughly outplayed by a Bengal team that had lost 7 straight. I don't mind losing to good football teams but I hate losing to rinky-dinks. Especially the Bengals. <<< Back to Mac & Wife's
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