Well, I can't say I didn't expect this. I always like to believe this team is going to win. I told my wife on our drive to the shore this weekend that I thought....really thought....that we were going to lose. It pains me to even type that. I never get that feeling. I was confident during the entire run of 2005. Sometimes you just get a feeling that you can't shake, and man, I had a bad feeling about this one. I feared the special teams all week and correctly so. I feared Najeh not getting it done all week and correctly so. The one thing I feared that I didn't need to fear was the left tackle position. Trai Essex did his part in my opinion. Pressure continues to flow up the middle like me peeing after a six pack...forcefully. It's embarrassing that since Ray Mansfield played center we haven't felt pressure up the gut like this. Ben looked shell shocked at times and with good reason. Can you imagine if for one game he wasn't running for his life after "hut"? I wouldn't know how to act. On to the random thoughts:
I rewatched the kickoff return about 10 times on NFL.com. At 1:14 of the game clip, there is a clip on Ike Taylor. I have to also say that starting at 1:11 or so, Ike doesn't look that inspired to make the tackle in the first place. The thing that bothers me most about the clip is that the guy I watched the game with (knowledgeable football fan C-Mo) said "Clip!" at the same time I saw it so we weren't making things up - furthermore, the ref was facing it when it happened and it was within 8 feet of the guy with the ball. Shrugs.
On the Jags first offensive touchdown - Tyrone Carter was as worthless as hot women at a Priest's convention. Watch the replay.
On Garrard's run on 4th and 2, see comments above about Ty Carter. I like his intensity, but a safety needs to stay under control and not get juked so easily! DAMN!
The worst thing that happened in this game occurred when on 3rd and 6, needing maybe 1 or 2 first downs to secure the game, some AssHat called a QB run...wide. Wait, WHAT? WHAT? Are you kidding me? Hines Ward was making tough inside catches the entire game you flaming idiot! What the HELL did you just do to my season? You giant ASSHOLE!
There, I feel much better now. Quit trying to friggin' out think the other team and get the first down!!! Why do teams curl up in the fetal position at these crucial junctures in games? We were moving the ball at will late in the game, and now, with Najeh at 14 rushes for 21 yards, we run him TWICE to make it 16 for 26 and then run Ben? Maybe if he got 5.5 yards I wouldn't be so bitter, but he got 1 yard. 1. One. Uno.
Dan Sepulveda - I have been waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for a 50 yard boot this year....just a friggin' crushing punt when we need one. If we ever needed one, it was right after the AssHat called the QB keeper on 3rd and 6. Instead, you put up a very pedestrian 40 yarder with no pressure in your grill. Sigh. Thanks. I think the second the punt was caught I muttered "game over".
Ben.....Ben, Ben, Ben,.....Ben. BEN! In this game you looked like Terry Bradshaw on the first drive and near the end of the game - but I swear I saw a little Mark Malone in the middle. I know with so many starters out and your main weapon to boot that you felt a lot of pressure to carry the team. It's just that the second pick to Mathis didn't make a bit of sense. I can forgive the first and third to some degree.....but the second Mathis pick was a B-A-D decision.
I'm sick of Najeh Davenport. I need to know what I'm getting out of my power back each week. I can't get inspired one week and lethargic the next. I've been complaining about this for weeks.
Can I please have the head of the Special Teams coach on my desk Monday morning? First thing? Thanks.
I'm sorry, but I just don't think Sean Mahan held that dude on the 2 pt conversion. I'm not a fan and he's a big reason Ben got clobbered this year - but he didn't hold that guy.
I'm done. Enjoy the playoffs. I love to root for the AFC but I'd also like to Favre get another ring. I just don't think they're good enough as a team to accomplish the feat. Predictions later in the week.
6 comments:
Was interested in hearing what you guys had to say about the game. We saw this same scenario play out more than once this season...the Steelers dig a deep hole for themselves, scrap and fight their way back from the brink of defeat and have a chance to win, only to have our defense ultimately let us down when the game is on the line. That being said our defense played well last night up until that last Jags drive. Our special teams continue to kill us. I noticed the pathetic attempt at a tackle by Carter on the 4th down run by Garrard too. Horrible.
I couldn't understand the 3rd down call to have Ben run either. That was sick. Honestly at first I thought it was a broken play! Ben was hot in the 4th quarter and our passing game was clicking, so why the hell run Ben? WTF. Think Arians will go?
Davenport is a good player but he is no Bettis and no "closer". Nor is he a guy that can carry a team or wear you out. You want that see Jamal Lewis or Brandon Jacobs. That's the kind of back we need so we can return to playing STEELER FOOTBALL!!
I'm disappointed because we should've won the game but I couldn't see us going any further this year anyway especially since we were so banged up. Overall I'd rate it a good season for Tomlin's first. He will be better and wiser in 2008. Woodley and Silverback can build on this season too and I want to see Timmons in there next year. Hopefully we'll address the special teams and line problems during the off-season and draft! PLEASE!
P.S. At this point I'm for anyone who plays New England;-) Would love to see G.B. get there in the NFC.
We have the special teams of suck!
Once again Steeler Nation was yelling 'Oh shit! Oh shit!"......
Ben, ah Ben, you can't turn the ball over 4 times and expect to win. But I must say it was a valiant effort. The Steelers dig deep and can be the "come back kids" but you cant play that kind of ball in the playoffs. You have to be consistent and they weren't - I have been bitching about that all season.
The penalty on the 2 point conversion still makes me sick.
I too hope New England bungles a game.
Lets go PENS!
You guys left only one criticism out. Tomlin's decision to go for two from the 12 yard line. I agree with going for 2 in that situation and we had it, but for the phantom holding call. But from the 12 you just got to kick the one.
Random Thoughts:
Ariens and Ligashesky at a minimum have to go... probably the O-line coach who "accidentally" emailed pornographic content to the league office too. I know I'd get fired for doing something that stupid And my job performance this year was much better than his. Of course my boss has low expectations but I like that!
Brandon Jacobs is the best fatback in the NFL. I'd love to have him on our team.
Watch out for the Giants. If there's a team that looks like the 2005-06 Steelers it's the NY Football Giants.
Will San Diego choke again? I think so... inasmuch as losing to the Colts in Indy can be called a choke.
If there is such a thing as justice in the world, somebody will beat the Patriots.
Don't know what to think about the NFC. Favre has never won in Dallas. But who knows, it may not even come to that.
Here's to Ohio State and Louisiana State scoring less than 49 points tonight. That's worth $365 to the Dog!
Yep, that was stupid to go for it from the 12. Lots and lots of blame to go around in that game.
I forgot to mention one word - SPEED! Do we have any?
Can we catch anyone?
How about some cardio conditioning for this team.
I am recruiting my hubby and Still A Fan to play next year - heck, throw in Forrest Gump too.
Forrest Gump was a hell of a football player for Bear Bryant at Alabama. That was long before Bruce Arians showed his talent as an offensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide.
Check out the 1997 Iron Bowl (annual Alabama - Auburn game) Here's a link to the video. Watch the pump fake to the right (which fools no one) and the assoholic screen to the left that was doomed to failure. Look familiar??
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=3839761
Alabama just needed a first down to seal the game... just like the Steelers Saturday night.
Alabama snaps the ball from their own 36, nearly the same field position as the Steelers on Saturday night.
Alabama throws a screen pass that is a regular abortion, results in a fumble and gives Auburn a chance to kick the winning FG which they did... just like the Arians Abortion (with a rusty coat hanger) which was Ben's sweep left on 3rd and 6 on Saturday night.
What else do we have in common between these two games you ask? Well Bruce Arians was the OC for Alabama in that game and called that play and he was the OC for the Steelers on Sat. and called the Ben Sweep (aka Arians Abortion).
The 'Bama head coach fired Arians after that game. Hell, Butch Davis fired his ass after taking play calling duties away from him in freaking CLEVELAND. If Tomlin keeps Arians sorry ass on our staff to screw up another year of Steeler football for me I'm going to puke.
People say Ben likes him and he might get a reprive. But I heard a guy once say, "I love my mom but that don't mean she makes the best apple pie."
Mark Whipple is out there somewhere and Ben likes him too. I say bring him back as OC. I wanted him in that position last year. If not, then promote Ken Anderson. Anderson is a master of the short passing game as taught by his offensive coordinator at Cincinnati, Bill Walsh. Perhaps Kenny could bring something to the table. I'm quite certain he could call a better game than Arians, who is a proven failure everywhere he goes.
I dont care who Ben likes.
We need to take out the trash.
With giant Hefty bags!
If we had to lose I am glad it was to Jacksonville though.
Oh, how I pray they beat the Patriots.
Thanks for the link stilladog - history sure does repeat itself.
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