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Leave YOUR Writing on the Wall! Send your predictions, smak, & insults about our upcoming opponent as well as your postgame critiques, analysis, ranting and raving about the last game. 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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Why the Smirk?
Grins and shoulder shrugs were the Steelers' casual repsonse to the New England loss. Maybe a spanking by Oakland will wake the team up.
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Prepared... to Lose?
Steelers still not ready to play
Article by McMillen & Wife
Sept 14, 2002 -- I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be apathetic about the Oakland Raiders coming to town. But folks, I've gotta be honest with you. Not only have I been having trouble getting excited about Sunday night's home opener vs. Oakland; I'm looking forward to it with a sense of dread. I've been trying to find some reason -- ANY reason -- to believe the Steelers will win this weekend, but folks, I just can't find one. The bitter taste of the New England debacle is still very fresh in my mouth, and to be honest with you, I think we're in for another ass-whipping Sunday night.
It's not because of the Raiders.
I could waste lots of breath analyzing Oakland's high-powered offense and talking about Charlie Garner piling up almost 200 total yards against the Seahawks last week. I could mention that Gannon, while overrated in my book, is a very solid player, and Brown and Rice both "still have it." After all, it's only week two... Oakland's vunerability of venerablity (say THAT three times fast) hasn't caught up with them yet. But with all due respect, the quality of the opponent is not the reason we'll be 0-2 after this one. It's really much simpler than that:
Bill Cowher does not have this team ready to play.
Unfortunately, what we saw from the Steelers in New England was no fluke. To the contrary, it was textbook opening day unpreparedness from Cowher & company. That's not to say for a minute that I believe what happened Monday night was representative of what the REAL 2002 Steelers will ultimately become. But it WAS a pretty clear statement about the lingering "preseason" mindset the team is stuck in right now.
The team bought into the hype.
Perhaps the Steelers' trash-talking players read a few too many pre-season press clippings preordaining them as Super Bowl champs. Maybe they thought all they had to do to win was show up. But if you payed attention to Cowher's statements before the game, HE knew the Steelers weren't prepared. How many times did he say things like, "It's only one game?" How many times did he send up flares warning everyone to "guard against high expectations?" HE KNEW his team wasn't ready. In a way, that's good a sign... it shows Cowher has a good feel for where his team is. But it also begs the question: Why didn't you have them prepared to play, coach?
The players are STILL buying into the hype.
After watching a number of interviews with players and coaches following the New England game, the overall vibe I got from many of them was one of "Oh, well, we lost. So what?" I saw more sheepish grins and seemingly disinterested shoulder shrugs than I could bear. Frankly, it sickens me. Some of these guys STILL don't get it. And that's exactly why I think they're gonna "GET IT" on Sunday. Fortunately, that's also when the turnaround will officially begin. I suspect 0-2 will do wonders to bring any heads still lingering in the clouds crashing down to earth.
My hopes for the season remain high.
In spite of my pessimism about this week's game, I firmly believe that Cowher will mold these guys into the heavy-weight contender they were billed as. The Steelers are an incredibly talented squad with an great blend of youth and veterans. There's no doubt in my mind that the pieces are in place to win it all. Cowher just needs to get those pieces lined up and ready to play.
Tims's Prediction: Raiders 27, Steelers 17
Sandy's Prediction: Steelers 23, Raiders 20
See 'yins after the game, bruthas & sistas!
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: Tommy Coleman
Comment: Whoa
Ok Tim,
And so after I just read your pre-game smak(?)what will your I say to that? Wanna fill in the blanks? You can start by thanking God for Sandy if you have not done so in the last few moments and then what hmmmm...
&%!!($#@!!#$%^ I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS BUT *&!@$^&*
PUT THE PICS I SENT YOU TODAY UP AS A SLIDE SHOW AND CLICK THROUGH THEM SLOW AT FIRST THEN FASTER AND FASTER UNTIL THAT SHIT IS OUT OF YO' MIND!
OF COURSE THE STEELERS HAVE TOO DO SO AS WELL. AND WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THEIR ATTITUDE IS PRETTY SAD.BUT COME ON... WIN OR ____ I WILL BE A STEELER FAN AND THE CHEAT'N BASTARDS AND THAT BLOODLESS FREAK AL DAVIS WILL ALWAYS BE CHEAT'N BASTARDS AND *!*!&!#!^!*!%^! FURTHER MORE THE BALL HIT TATUM AND IF WE DO NOTHING ELSE WE HAVE TO HIT THEIR SECOND STRING SAFETY ROD WOODSON SO HARD HE RETIRES AND COMES HOME FOR GOOD!
STEELERS 45
OCBs 0 ZIP NADA THEY GET NOTHING !
PS.Put the "Madden" down and back away from the game controller.
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Author: G. Brown
Comment: Raiders
Steelers will start season 0-4 !!!!!!!!
Cowher needs to find DBs.
I hope I am wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
G. Brown
Columbia,Tn
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Author: steelerx
Comment: GO STEELERS!!!
Prepared to lose? NO! Lets hope we win by a multitude of points or even come close to winning. I believe each and every player on the Steelers squad will be feeding off of game 1 (not literally), and by doing this they "will defeat" the Raiders today, this will spark a winning streak, and It'll be the start of a beautiful season. :)
My prediction: Steelers 27, Raiders 13
Look for me at half time, I'll be the guy running on the field with the sign that has a link to my web site on it. Joke! HaHaHaHa.
steelerx.tripod.com
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Author: spud light
Comment: Go Steelers
The steelers could walk away with this game if Dr. Jekyl shows up at quarterback instead of Mr. Hyde. Steward is so inconsistant at quarterback that unless he has a complete turn around we will never consistantly win. How many times can one person hand over the ball to the other team without being placed on there salary cap... As for our D it can stop the raiders if they don't spend 3/4's of the game on the field and with there backs to the wall. I just hope the right Kordell shows up.....GO STEELERS.
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Author: Jimmy Stewart
Comment: I I I I will go in coach
Hahmenah
Hahmenah
Hahmenah...
Love Jimmy "Stewart" |
Author: Edmon
Comment: More than 1 defender needs to show up
I believe with all my heart that Pitt will win this game. If they don't you can all expect to hear all over the news that Pitt might have beed a one hit wonder last year, only the hit didn't reach the top of the charts.
I believe they where not ready for that game last week, but i believe they will be this week. Against the Pats we where pnly rushing 3 men almost all the time. it seemed as if we where so paranoid of the Brady passing game that we played prevent the whole time. Thats how it seemed to me. Hey, the Pats killed us and made the statment they needed to make, now lets forget em.
I give great praise to J Gildon! He, out of all the defensive players actually played last week. He was all over the field! Amazing play and dedication towards the end of the game. In my mind, Gildon gets the game ball last week, he actually came to play!
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Author: GoDizzGo
Comment: thoughts
Steelers were 2-5 in their last 7 openers, so you can't read too much about how the Steelers actually are going to be from the first game. For example, last year the Steelers offense looked pathetic and the defense didn't look sharp when they lost away to the lowly Jaguars 24-7.
Furthermore, you can't read too much into the Raider demolishing of the Seahawks. Hassleback was playing and their WRs core is still too young, so defenses can primarily focus on stopped Shaun Alexander. The Seahawks also have a number of injuries and other problems that didn't match-up well against the Raiders.
That being said, this should be a tough, grind-it-out game unless Bettis isn't completely healthy (they hinted at it during the game on ESPN) and we have to use Fu (who I still believe we shouldn't have kept because of durability and fumbling problems) who may not be well himself. On the defensive side they're missing Kendrell Bell, and while that's a true loss, we do have enough talent behind him to mitigate it.
I say that the Steelers squeak out a win.
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Author: Your name here!
Comment: Coming soon!
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