Steelers week 2/Penguins
Boy, is it good to be wrong, and I am so glad I was wrong! I thought it was going to be a tall order for the Steelers to go into Nashville and knock off a Titans team that practically dominated them for the years the teams had met in Tennessee. The law of averages caught up, as they always do, and the Steelers delivered a message to the rest of the league. “We are more than just one player, and our defense will kick your ***!”
Yes, you can thank the Steeler D for this win, what with the seven turnovers and four sacks, not to mention the way it treated running back Chris Johnson. The opening kickoff for the touchdown did set the tone for the rest of the day and the defense brought its lunch pail to work and delivered the hits, the punches, and the shots to a Tennessee team that was not prepared for this physicality.
What is still disturbing is the inability of the offense to get into the endzone after eight quarters of regulation. The only offensive player to record a touchdown thus far is Rashard Mendenhall, and his came in overtime. Hines Ward, Heath Miller, Antwaan Randle El, Mike Wallace, and the other offensive skill players have been shut out of the touchdown department. This is a trend that needs to change, regardless of who is playing quarterback.
The alarms bells aren’t sounding, but this cannot go on forever. This team cannot wait for Roethlisberger to come back before it just turns it on and starts putting the ball in the endzone. Something has to happen in the next two weeks. Settling for field goals is just not going to keep getting it done. Something has to give.
Not wishing to rain on anyone’s party, mind you. A win is a win and not many people had the Steelers pegged for 2 – 0 at this point of the season. An amazing thing happens when an animal has its back to the wall, and this aptly describes these Steelers. They are out to prove they can play, beat, and beat up anybody put in front of them. And they are doing just that.
Week two is now in the books and it’s on to week three and a look ahead to the road trip to Tampa Bay. The last time the Steelers played in Tampa, we all know what happened. A come from behind win with just over two minutes to play in Super Bowl XLIII and a record sixth Lombardi Trophy. A return to the scene of such a remarkable feat is just what the doctor ordered.
Now, this being said, Tampa Bay is a surprising 2 – 0 at this point of their season, so this is not a mail in game. This game was originally seen as the most winnable game on their early schedule while Roethlisberger served his suspension. It isn’t looking that way now. The Buccaneers have a young coach in Raheem Morris who is being looked upon as the Mike Tomlin of Tampa. Lest we forget that Tomlin coached in Tampa under Jon Gruden and earned a ring in Super Bowl XXXVII.
So, two young coaches going head to head. The Bucs quarterback is Josh Freeman, out of Kansas State, and he is a young gun the Bucs are looking to build the franchise around and bring it back to prominence. This is not going to be a gimme game, as it was originally expected to be. The Steelers need to, again, bring their A game and keep bringing the heat, the fire, and the punch and knock the Bucs out of commission on Sunday.
I also believe this will be the week the offense breaks out and finally puts more points on the board besides field goals. At least one touchdown, perhaps two, and a stout defense that will come up big again in bringing the heat on the young Freeman. Mike Tomlin has this team singularly focused on the task ahead, one game at a time, and deliver the message that they are together on the mission of dispatching one opponent at a time, pounding them into submission, and leaving the carcasses for the buzzards.
Steelers 27, Tampa Bay 10.
Last week was a humble one when it came to my Pick of the Week and Upset Speical (the Upset Special did appear to make the paper last week in the editing process. Seattle got defeathered in Denver and Cleveland lost to Kansas City by two. That gives me a mark of 1 – 1 on each side of the ledger, so Sports Beat needs to get back on track with its picks.
Week 3
Pick of the Week, Miami over NY Jets (1 - 1)
Upset Special, Detroit over Minnesota (1 - 1)
Pitt will have played on national television Thursday night at Heinz Field against the University of Miami (FL), otherwise known as the U. Miami is still licking its wounds after being handled in Columbus by Ohio State. This was to be the year that the Hurricanes would return to national prominence, yet the schedule was set up to really test them and put them behind the eight ball.
The recent spate of legal problems for the Panthers can do one of two things. It can tear the program apart and the season could end up being a wash, or the players can band together, circle the wagons, and come out swinging. I’m betting head coach Dave Wannstedt will have the team prepared to be the latter and Pitt is going to be ready to play ball and send the Hurricanes home with their tails between their legs.
Penn State will play host to Temple this weekend in Happy Valley. Temple is Bill Cosby’s alma mater and was also asked to leave the Big East a few years back. This will be the last tune up for the Nittany Lions until Big Ten play begins. West Virginia has a tough road trip ahead of them when they travel to SEC country, down to the bayou, when they take on the LSU Tigers. Ohio State will play host to Eastern Michigan in the Horseshoe in Columbus before the Buckeyes open Big Ten play next weekend.
*The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially opened training camp and there will be a televised preseason game Saturday evening on the CW against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Consol Energy Center. This will be the first time most of the local populace will have a chance to see the new building (barn) on TV and to see the Pens in action for the first time this fall. So, better get the thumb prepared for an evening of flipping channels, as college football continues to unfold its season and hockey starts its flirtation with the local masses.
*Pens General Manager Ray Shero inked a new five year deal to stay with the organization through 2015-2016. A nice reward for all the moves he has made to give the team a chance every year to compete for a Stanley Cup title, especially under the salary cap all teams must operate under and all the money tied up in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, and Marc-Andre Fleury. Shero does a tremendous job enticing free agents to come to Pittsburgh to play with all of these superstars and young talent.
Yes, you can thank the Steeler D for this win, what with the seven turnovers and four sacks, not to mention the way it treated running back Chris Johnson. The opening kickoff for the touchdown did set the tone for the rest of the day and the defense brought its lunch pail to work and delivered the hits, the punches, and the shots to a Tennessee team that was not prepared for this physicality.
What is still disturbing is the inability of the offense to get into the endzone after eight quarters of regulation. The only offensive player to record a touchdown thus far is Rashard Mendenhall, and his came in overtime. Hines Ward, Heath Miller, Antwaan Randle El, Mike Wallace, and the other offensive skill players have been shut out of the touchdown department. This is a trend that needs to change, regardless of who is playing quarterback.
The alarms bells aren’t sounding, but this cannot go on forever. This team cannot wait for Roethlisberger to come back before it just turns it on and starts putting the ball in the endzone. Something has to happen in the next two weeks. Settling for field goals is just not going to keep getting it done. Something has to give.
Not wishing to rain on anyone’s party, mind you. A win is a win and not many people had the Steelers pegged for 2 – 0 at this point of the season. An amazing thing happens when an animal has its back to the wall, and this aptly describes these Steelers. They are out to prove they can play, beat, and beat up anybody put in front of them. And they are doing just that.
Week two is now in the books and it’s on to week three and a look ahead to the road trip to Tampa Bay. The last time the Steelers played in Tampa, we all know what happened. A come from behind win with just over two minutes to play in Super Bowl XLIII and a record sixth Lombardi Trophy. A return to the scene of such a remarkable feat is just what the doctor ordered.
Now, this being said, Tampa Bay is a surprising 2 – 0 at this point of their season, so this is not a mail in game. This game was originally seen as the most winnable game on their early schedule while Roethlisberger served his suspension. It isn’t looking that way now. The Buccaneers have a young coach in Raheem Morris who is being looked upon as the Mike Tomlin of Tampa. Lest we forget that Tomlin coached in Tampa under Jon Gruden and earned a ring in Super Bowl XXXVII.
So, two young coaches going head to head. The Bucs quarterback is Josh Freeman, out of Kansas State, and he is a young gun the Bucs are looking to build the franchise around and bring it back to prominence. This is not going to be a gimme game, as it was originally expected to be. The Steelers need to, again, bring their A game and keep bringing the heat, the fire, and the punch and knock the Bucs out of commission on Sunday.
I also believe this will be the week the offense breaks out and finally puts more points on the board besides field goals. At least one touchdown, perhaps two, and a stout defense that will come up big again in bringing the heat on the young Freeman. Mike Tomlin has this team singularly focused on the task ahead, one game at a time, and deliver the message that they are together on the mission of dispatching one opponent at a time, pounding them into submission, and leaving the carcasses for the buzzards.
Steelers 27, Tampa Bay 10.
Last week was a humble one when it came to my Pick of the Week and Upset Speical (the Upset Special did appear to make the paper last week in the editing process. Seattle got defeathered in Denver and Cleveland lost to Kansas City by two. That gives me a mark of 1 – 1 on each side of the ledger, so Sports Beat needs to get back on track with its picks.
Week 3
Pick of the Week, Miami over NY Jets (1 - 1)
Upset Special, Detroit over Minnesota (1 - 1)
Pitt will have played on national television Thursday night at Heinz Field against the University of Miami (FL), otherwise known as the U. Miami is still licking its wounds after being handled in Columbus by Ohio State. This was to be the year that the Hurricanes would return to national prominence, yet the schedule was set up to really test them and put them behind the eight ball.
The recent spate of legal problems for the Panthers can do one of two things. It can tear the program apart and the season could end up being a wash, or the players can band together, circle the wagons, and come out swinging. I’m betting head coach Dave Wannstedt will have the team prepared to be the latter and Pitt is going to be ready to play ball and send the Hurricanes home with their tails between their legs.
Penn State will play host to Temple this weekend in Happy Valley. Temple is Bill Cosby’s alma mater and was also asked to leave the Big East a few years back. This will be the last tune up for the Nittany Lions until Big Ten play begins. West Virginia has a tough road trip ahead of them when they travel to SEC country, down to the bayou, when they take on the LSU Tigers. Ohio State will play host to Eastern Michigan in the Horseshoe in Columbus before the Buckeyes open Big Ten play next weekend.
*The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially opened training camp and there will be a televised preseason game Saturday evening on the CW against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Consol Energy Center. This will be the first time most of the local populace will have a chance to see the new building (barn) on TV and to see the Pens in action for the first time this fall. So, better get the thumb prepared for an evening of flipping channels, as college football continues to unfold its season and hockey starts its flirtation with the local masses.
*Pens General Manager Ray Shero inked a new five year deal to stay with the organization through 2015-2016. A nice reward for all the moves he has made to give the team a chance every year to compete for a Stanley Cup title, especially under the salary cap all teams must operate under and all the money tied up in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, and Marc-Andre Fleury. Shero does a tremendous job enticing free agents to come to Pittsburgh to play with all of these superstars and young talent.
Comments