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Leave YOUR Writing on the Wall! Send your postgame critiques, analysis, ranting and raving about the last game as well as your predictions, smak, & insults about our upcoming opponent. Whether your message is a simple "Go Steelers" or detailed, in-depth analysis, tell us what you think and we'll post it below.
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Steelers vs Raiders (17-30)
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Fan Poll |  |
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Who deserves the game ball for the Raiders game?
• Joey Porter, INT #2
• Joey Porter, INT #1
• Joey Porter, Sk #3
• Joey Porter, Sk #1
• Joey Porter, Sk #2
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Scoring Summary
First Quarter
OAK - FG, Sebastian Janikowski 41 Yd.
PIT - TD, Hines Ward, 34 Yd pass from Kordell Stewart (kick is good).
OAK - TD, Charlie Garner, 36 Yd run (kick is good).
Second Quarter
OAK - TD, Jerry Porter, 21 Yd pass from Rich Gannon (kick is good).
PIT - FG, Todd Peterson 46 Yd.
Third Quarter
OAK - FG, Sebastian Janikowski 45 Yd.
PIT - TD, Hines Ward, 5 Yd pass from Kordell Stewart (kick is good).
Fourth Quarter
OAK - TD, Terry Kirby, 96 Yd kick return (kick is good).
OAK - FG, Sebastian Janikowski 27 Yd.
Key Stats & Facts
• Joey Porter: 2 interceptions (both at goal line) and 3 sacks!
Regardless of how poorly the rest of the team performed, I can't help but be thrilled with Joey Porter, who had the game of his life and was the ONLY reason the Steelers were able to stay in the game.
• Rich Gannon: 43 of 64 for 403 yards, 1 TD, 2 Int.
The guy threw something like 40 passes in the first half. I've never seen anything quite like it.
• Oakland 9 of 12 on 3rd down conversions in first half
On one first half scoring drive, Oakland coverted five 3rd downs, including a 3rd & 15 and a pair of 3rd & 10's.
• A 96-yard kick return for a TD.
Man, what a crushing blow after the Steelers had narrowed the score to 20-17 on the final play of the 3rd quarter. This was THE play of the game. Talk about rapid response...
• Rod Woodson: 3 fumble recoveries (an NFL record).
Man, I wish this guy was still a Steeler. He's a friggin' ball magnet.
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Steelers Offensive Leaders | |
PASSING |
ATT |
CMP |
YDS |
TD |
INT | |
Stewart |
34 |
18 |
201 |
2 |
1 |
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RUSHING |
ATT |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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Bettis |
10 |
41 |
0 |
8 |
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Zereoue |
3 |
12 |
0 |
5 |
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RECEIVING |
REC |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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Ward |
7 |
92 |
2 |
34 |
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Mathis |
3 |
38 |
0 |
15 |
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Randle El |
2 |
23 |
0 |
17 |
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Raiders Offensive Leaders | |
PASSING |
ATT |
CMP |
YDS |
TD |
INT | |
Gannon |
64 |
43 |
403 |
1 |
2 |
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RUSHING |
ATT |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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Garner |
6 |
56 |
1 |
36 |
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Kirby |
7 |
23 |
0 |
13 |
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RECEIVING |
REC |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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Rice |
11 |
94 |
0 |
18 |
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Brown |
7 |
64 |
14 |
0 |
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Porter |
6 |
62 |
1 |
21 |
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Key Defensive Players | |
DEFENSE |
T-A |
SCK |
INT |
FBR |
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Porter |
11-1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
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Scott |
9-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Logan |
7-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Washington |
6-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Haggans |
2-1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
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Key Defensive Players | |
DEFENSE |
T-A |
SCK |
INT |
FBR |
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Woodson |
3-1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
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Gibson |
6-1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Barton |
4-2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Harris |
3-1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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T. Smith |
3-1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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What To Do?
As Bill Cowher ponders how to prevent opponents from exploiting our defense with a scheme that neutralizes our best players, one thing is for sure: the bye couldn't have come at a better time.
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Why are we losing?
Problems plenty, solutions few
Article by McMillen & Wife
I laid awake for a long time Sunday night after the Oakland loss, staring into the quiet darkness of our room as the evening's horrific events involuntarily replayed over and over in my head. As I lie there listening to Sandy's steady breathing and the cat's muffled-but-obnoxious snoring from under the bed (I'm not making that up), the same little cluster of questions kept cycling through my mind:
"Why didn't we run Bettis more?"
"What in the world was Kordell thinking?"
"Why did we turn the ball over so much?"
"Why did our special teams let us down again?"
"Why didn't Cowher have this team ready to friggin' play?"
Valid as they are, those questions weren't what was keeping me awake. After all, each of those same issues crossed my mind at times during the course of last season, so it was relatively easy to come up with possible causes/solutions to them. The team has crossed each of those bridges before, so, while troubling, they were certainly nothing to lose sleep about.
But one impossible question kept shouting above the clamor of the others. It was a question that has NEVER before crossed my mind during Cowher's tenure, and that's why it was so alarming:
Why does our defense absolutely SUCK???!!!
My mind was filled with vivid images of James Farrior's repeated and utterly futile attempts to cover Jerry Rice; Jason Gildon man-on-man with Tim Brown; Rich Gannon eating a LARGE sandwich in the pocket while Casey Hampton, Kimo von Oelhoffen and Aaron Smith spun their wheels at the line of scrimmage, generating ZERO pass rush even though none of them were being double-teamed on most plays.
Then, just as I was drifting off to sleep, I had an epiphany.
****** FADE IN DREAMY VAPOR TRAILS ******
Casey, Kimo and Aaron in quicksand... no pressure... linebackers covering wide receivers... no pressure... our linebackers ARE our pass rush... no pressure... DBs that are adequate at best... no pressure... Casey, Kimo and Aaron are built to stop the run... no pressure... our linebackers are supposed to rush the passer... no pressure... instead of rushing the passer, our linebackers are all in coverage on wide receivers, creating a huge mismatch and completely neutralizing our pass rush, and since we don't have a single defensive lineman on our roster that can rush the passer, there's not a damn thing we can do about it... holy $#!%, Batman, we're f---ed!
*** VAPOR TRAILS BLOWN AWAY WITH A FLASH OF BRIGHT LIGHT ***
Folks, at 3:35 a.m. on Monday morning, I flipped on the TV and watched the first half of the game tape again, and my worst fears were confirmed. We simply don't have the personnel on our roster to counter this 5-wide crap. Don't believe me? Just consider the facts for a moment.
The Steelers defense is built to do two things: 1) stop the run, and 2) pressure the QB with our arsenal of incredible linebackers. Overall, our secondary is solid, but certainly nothing to write home about, especially once you get beyond Scott and Washington. Ultimately, our DBs are expected to stay with receivers just long enough to allow the pass rush to do its job. And therein, bruthas & sistas, lies the problem.
Against the typical pro offense in a standard pro set, we're sitting pretty because you absolutely can't make a living running against us. Forget about it! And when you try to pass, some killing machine of a linebacker (you'll never know which one until it's too late) is gonna be breathing down your neck quickly enough that you're gonna have to trouble completing the pass because a) you have to unload the ball before your receivers have time to wriggle away from our DBs, or b) you haven't had time to decode the zone-blitz coverage. Are 'ya with me so far?
So, because of our 3-4 defensive scheme, our defensive linemen are line-clogging run-stoppers with almost no pass-rushing ability. They don't need to rush... all they do is clog the line and create lanes for our linebackers to plug or rush through. Moving their man a step or two to the left or right is generally all that's asked of them. Yeah, I know Aaron Smith had some sacks last season, but when it happened, it was generally because teams were too busy trying to contain our linebackers to pay attention to Smith.
This is why the 5-wide set is so completely disarming to us. Our linebackers are the undisputed strength of our team, and once you take them out of the equation by spreading the field, our defensive line becomes little more than a second layer of the QB's pocket. Meanwhile, your QB's pocket time soars and his insurance premiums plummet because our spread out linebackers are unable to effectively rush the passer. As an added bonus, you create multiple favorable mismatches for your QB to choose from because your slot receivers are now lined up against comparatively slow linebackers. And since even the best coverage linebacker can generally hang with an average wide receiver for only a split second or two, you're free to leisurely drop back and throw 45 passes per half... unmolested.
Think Farrior vs. Rice, people. Rice had 10 catches in the first half. Again, whomever you put in the slot is almost guaranteed to be lined up against a linebacker. Any possession receiver will do. It's like candy from a baby.
So why not go to a nickel or dime package? Okay, fine... except that our run-oriented D-line STILL can't pressure the passer, our 2nd-tier DB's simply aren't that good, and the strength of our team is relegated to getting burned or sitting on the bench.
The bottom line: It's not a question of our defense suddenly losing their edge or Cowher suddenly forgetting how to coach. It's a matter of teams being able to exploit our defense with a scheme that neutralizes or keeps our best players off the field. The puzzle of our defense isn't that the players aren't playing hard or that Tim Lewis had some sort of debilitating aneurism. We're in a position where the coaching staff suddenly has to devise an as-of-yet undiscovered scheme to cover the 5-wide set with a roster that's simply not equipped to do it.
Bill Belichik is a disciple from hell. This is all HIS doing.
Be glad this is happening NOW while there's still time to adjust, folks. Had we suddenly been blindsided by this in week 10, we would've been doomed.
One thing is for sure: the bye couldn't have come at a better time.
Tim McMillen
Webmaster, McMillen & Wife
Mac & Wife is Hosted and Sponsored by Pittsburgh's Finest!
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Fan Smak & Analysis
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The following articles are listed in the order they were received (with the most recent entries at the BOTTOM). This isn't a "guestbook" format... I read and manually insert every message, so you may not see your submission show up immediately. Thanks a million for your comments, people!
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Author: Maybe maybe not
Comment: Re: Defensive personnel main problem
You're a freak. I cannot belive you could even pop that 'game' tape into your vcr let alone watch it again without vomiting let alone do it with enough interest to break it down.
I think you make some excellent points. Your on the bullseye about our defenses scheme and the problems were having getting a pass rush against the 5 wide but I don't know if I would go so far as to say we don't have the personel to deal with it. The mismatches killed us for sure. But if we had not turned the ball over 5 times and allowed a kickoff for a TD things could have been different.
I also think that not mentioning how poorly the offense played is glaring. Kordumb sucked.
Your right that linebackers on wide receivers is gonna get us killed. They've got to come up with a way to jam guys and get pressure on the QB. Your article scares the crap out of me to be honest becuase your right. We are built to stop the run. But I think your selling our defense a little short. Wait until Kendrell Bell comes back.
Cowher and Lewis will figure this out. The buy came at the right time to salvage this season.
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Author: Steel Towner
Comment: Re: Defensive personnel main problem
Nice analysis mac, as always. "our defensive line becomes little more than a second layer of the QB's pocket" What a great line! LMAO!
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Author: phantommatrix
Comment: very good analysis, tim
I think you've absolutely hit the nail on the head with that post about what is truly wrong with our defense right now. I just hope the coaches can come to that same realization, and fix it, or we're going to see this same thing happen week in and week out. Very good point that out defensive line is mainly made to stop the run, and are not near as effective getting to the passer.
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Author: Your name here!
Comment: Coming soon!
Send us your comments!
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Author: TRUEBLACKnGOLD
Comment: Tim Tim Tim
Tim Tim Tim,
You know there is something wrong with a man that has a lovely wife laying next to him and still pops in a tape at 3:35 in the morning to analize it. But oh great one that is a very in depth analysis. I agree the bye came just in time but I feel we have the talent to correct this, time will tell. I for one appreciate your indeavors in the wee hours of the night to give us in depth coverage, but Tim, I think you have issues.
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Author: Your name here!
Comment: E-mail Tim Lewis
You need to e-mail this to Tim Lewis. I don't think it would solve anything but I think you nailed the problem Mcmillen. Everybody is talking Kordel, Kordel, Kordel. Stewart has been bad but like you said we've overcome that before. I think I might lose sleep tonight thinking about this. If we don't have the right peole to stop this then what can we do?
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Author: baday12345
Comment: 5 wide
you have a point, but.....
this 5 wide crap is essentially the same offense
used with the run-&-shoot schemes of the 90's however the last 2 weeks the routes have shortened to dink city. with a 2-3 second qb delivery, pressure is hard to achieve. even so we got 5 sacks and some key downfield interceptions when they decided to play "real" football. the 5 wide spread is definietly causing problems for our defense but our offensive turnovers have cost us at least 10-14 points in each game so far. not to mention our offense is really out of sync and hardly on the field long enough to rest the d.
i came all the way out from cal to see this game. i expected a better show from our boys. but such is football.
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Author: Brian Park
Comment: post-game fan smack
Tim, I strongly agree that the main fault in the poor start of the season is the exploiting of the pass defense. Us Steeler fans knew all along (even through last year) that the pass defense was fairly week. Yet none of built up the courage to mention it, because we were still winning the games and such. Even last year, whenever a team would start passing the ball, the defense would begin losing it. Of the better teams we beat last year, they're main offensive strengths were rushing (Bucs, Ravens). And that's what we're good at. The pass defense just isn't designed to go against massive groups of wide recievers.
Solution? My guess is as good as yours. All i know is, we need to bring in more coverage-friendly schemes for our linebackers. Earl Holmes leaving was not a good idea, seeing he was perhaps the best coverage linebacker we had last year. Linebackers can cover recievers well, it's just a matter of who. Jack Ham is a great example.
There were other problems in the game, of course. ALL THOSE FUMBLES!!!!! That's what killed out chances when we got really close to making a comeback. They kept the offense off the field and our defense tired.
I hate to admit it, but Deshea Townshend isn't as good as we all thought he could be. QB's seem to be passing in his direction more, and he doesn't seem able to handle the constant pressure.
On a lighter note, I think the injury of Kendrell Bell hurt the quality of the defense alot. After all, he was the league's defensive rookie of the year. It's like the Titans without Kearse, or the Bears without Urlacher. Hopefully by the end of the bye week we can figure this whole dilemma out, and Kendrell will be back in shape.
I don't think Burress is as good as projected this year. I think that's just him mouthing off after last year. Hines is still consistent. But the true hope (in my humble opinion) for the passing game lies with Randle El. Once he tweaks himself and gets rid of those "rookie mistakes", he's bound go blow up. And I also enjoyed his conributions to the punt-return and kick-off return plays.
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Author: Law Dog
Comment: "D" is not the problem, at least not as much as the offense
Though you have brought up many good points about the defense (or lack there of); the biggest problem with the "D" is our lack of an offense. You cannot continue to have 1:30 minute break before you have to be back on the field. The defense side of the ball is all reactive. Playing it tires you out much more than "O", beacuse you are always reacting to what the "O" players are doing. Then with no rest beacuse your offense cannot muster a first down or turns the ball over before you can even catch your breath, you are bound to fail. The "D" has bent tremendously in the first halfs but they have not broke. They have kept the Steelers in the games. But without the O doing anything you getting more and more drained on whats going on. The Steelers game is all about ball control and Stewart, Bettis, Malarkey and the boys just havn't given to the "D" to succeed; or even hold it's own.
The offense has 30 Minutes with the ball in a game and the Steelers defense we be back the way it was last season.
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Author: G. Brown
Comment: Oakland
My solution: A 4-2-5 set, that shifts to a 3-3-5 set.
D-line: Bailey,Kemo,Smith,Gildon
Gildon will play weakside end or Backer.
Backers: Farrior,Bell,Porter
Bell can blitz or cover.
DBs: Washington,Scott,Logan,Townsend,Poteat
Washington & Townsand outside WRs
Poteat at slot
Logan at strong safety,Scott at weak safety
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Author: Paul
Comment: same ol steelers
i have to agree with tim on his call of the raiders game. i had high hopes for our boys but i live in the real world to. to give the steelers credit(or at least joey porter) we were only down 3 points after what...40 or 50 passes. thats not to bad in my book. all in all we have to face the facts that the steelers simply dont show up for big games regardless if they are in january or not.i think bill chower is the best coack in the nfl but his gameplans for big games needs to change in a hurry. and as far as the analyst go i dont buy into the corners geting burnt by the raiders. i mean realy if any of us threw 65 or 70 passes to jerry rice and tim brown wouldnt we put up 400 yard to? i bleed black and gold but it seems like my team dont. i hope tim is right and they start playng like the team they are...
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Author: Art Lyon
Comment: Raiders game
I only have a few things to say because it doesn't take much to realize what's wrong with our Steelers. Does everyone know why Kordell had such a great season last year? It's because we RUN THE FOOTBALL FIRST and that sets up our passing game. The Bus was the leading rusher in the entire NFL before the injury and because everyone had to "try" to stop the run, it opened up the passing game. The coaching staff should know better than anyone that Kordell can't read defenses and doesn't have a clue how to look around to "all" the receivers. All you have to do is watch him lock on to his target to know he can't pick out the open man! We need to play Steelers football and that means run first, pass second. When did Cowher and Kordell decide they were going to make this a cute Rams offensive scheme anyway! Give the damn ball to the Bus!!!
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Author: Jerry Golding
Comment: ?????????
Dear Mcmillen and Wife,
I have been a die hard steeler fan all my life.I am witnessing the most pathetic steeler team I have ever seen!
We might as well face it as long as cowher is the coach we will never get to a super bowl and win it ,or even get close.
Stewart is pathetic ,our defense can't stop a team from passing.It looks like they could,knowing that teams are going to throw on us.
I know he can see what is wrong but he doesn't do anything to improve it.
Stewart will never make it as an NFL quarterback.I think Maddox is our quarterback.If theses players on defense and offense can't do the job replace them.
I think it is time to stop playing around,and stop trading players that have played very good for us.
I am just about fed up with cowher .
I will never be a fan of any other team but the steelers.
I am against what cowher is doing.
This could be the most pathetic team the steelers have ever had.
Sincerely yours,
a very disappointed and angry steeler fan,
Jerry
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Author: Your name here!
Comment: Coming soon!
Send us your comments!
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