Pro football final week
Let’s begin this week with a remark our editor made in regard to former Pitt football coach Dave Wannstedt. He mentioned that the Wannstedt years were mired in mediocrity. Let me recount a previous edition where I discussed the Pitt coaches from 1973 through the present. Between 1976 and 1983 were Pitt’s last glory years. When Jackie Sherrill left Pitt before the 1982 season, that was the beginning of the end of those glory years. Pitt has been mired in mediocrity since. This is not a Wannstedt problem, this is a Pitt problem.
Nothing against the new coach, Mike Haywood. But college recruiting is about the coaches, the facilities, the surroundings, and how a potential player is going to be treated. Yes, those players have to be coached, too. But Pitt is in the worst conference in the country. Most of these recruits were coming here because of Wannstedt. Now, they will be going elsewhere so they can be seen on TV and have a chance, perhaps, to play in the professional ranks.
Haywood is now AD Steve Pederson’s man. If this doesn’t work out, both men will go down with the ship. Stay tuned.
When last we left the Steelers, they had played the New York Jets, then the Carolina Panthers. Quite simply put, after the way they played against the Jets, I decided to watch the Penguins-Washington Capitols game last Thursday, then I put on the Steeler game. That is how disgusted I was with the way they played two Sundays ago. There is no excuse for playing that way at home. The Steelers have lost three games at home this season. What kind of home field advantage is that?
You have to play well at home, simply said. If you don’t, then how do you expect to play in the playoffs? They did play much better against Carolina. Then again, they should have played well against one of the worst teams in the league. But when you have a chance to wrap things up against a quality opponent like the Jets, you do it. The Jets were 0 for Pennsylvania throughout their existence. Not anymore, thanks to your beloved Steelers.
The only two losses on their schedule I can accept are New England and New Orleans. They had a chance to beat the defending Super Bowl champions, but that went by the wayside. And they simply weren’t prepared to play the Patriots. Other than that, they should only have two losses on their schedule.
So now, here is the situation. Go to Cleveland this week and beat the Browns and the division and the number two seed are wrapped up. Take care of your own business.
Somehow the Steelers backed into the playoffs after the loss to the Jets. I didn’t think that was possible. The Steelers can either earn the number two seed, or end up with the number six seed. You can do the math and figure out which one would better serve them.
While injuries are no excuse, this team has got to get healthy. And to quote Mike Tomlin, this is also an old team. The players may not like to listen to that, and perhaps that is a motivator on behalf of the coach, but there is no denying that, at least defensively, this team is on the wrong side of 30.
Believe it or not, the best thing for this team is Ben Roethlisberger. That night in Georgia seems like a distant memory, now, even though there are those out there who will likely never forgive him. And that is their prerogative. However, a team will only go as far as the quarterback will take them. And very few teams have franchise quarterbacks. You can get rid of a Super Bowl MVP wide receiver. It is a whole lot different under center.
Ironically, the offense is younger than the defense. Ben is only 28. Rashard Mendenhall is only in his third season. Mike Wallace is only in his second season. Emmanuel Sanders and Anthony Brown are rookies who have made solid contributions. What they have to do, now, is figure out ways to get the ball into the end zone instead of settling for field goals. If the best is yet to come, then this team might be alright. But, if this is the best they can muster, then they’re in trouble.
Some are saying this season has been reflective of the Super Bowl season two years ago. Maybe it is. However, in order to win a championship, you have to make plays and the Steelers haven’t done enough of that against quality opponents. Thus far, the four losses have occurred against Baltimore, New Orleans, New England, and the New York Jets. All are playoff, or playoff caliber, football teams. But those are also teams you should be able to beat. Only New England thoroughly whipped the Steelers. So, they need to find a way to win those other three games.
Can the Steelers win the Super Bowl? If everything falls into place, yes they can. Will they? That is a long way off and a lot of business left to be conducted. By securing the division and the number two seed, you are one win away from the championship game. Should someone upset the Patriots in New England, then the Steelers can host the AFC Championship. But, as mentioned earlier, I am not so sure that would be a good thing. Can the Steelers win the championship on the road as they did five years ago? They’ve proven to be road warriors, so that is not out of the realm of possibility.
This weekend will prove a lot. Last year in Cleveland the Steelers laid a huge egg. Cleveland is not playing bad football; just making a lot of mental mistakes. If the Steelers aren’t careful, they can lose this game. But, with everything on the line, I believe they are going to take care of business. If pride is any kind of motivating factor, they will be ready to go up to Cleveland and let loose, knowing a week of rest will be in the offing and at least one playoff game at home.
This is the final week of the regular season. Coaches have been fired and will be fired after the season is over. Those surviving will be making preparations for the playoffs, which is where every team wants to be. This year looks like it will be wide open in terms of whom can get to Dallas and Super Bowl XLV. Next week be a synopsis of the Cleveland game and a look ahead to wild card weekend in the NFL. This week also offers up the final Pick of the Week and the last Upset Special. This has been one unusual NFL season and it promises to finish on the same note.
Playoff picks will continue next week after this is all sorted out at the end of the day on Sunday. Final score from Cleveland; Steelers 28, Browns 13.
Week 16
Pick of the Week, Green Bay over Chicago (Season, 7 – 9)
Upset Special, Washington over New York Giants (Season, 4 – 12)
Nothing against the new coach, Mike Haywood. But college recruiting is about the coaches, the facilities, the surroundings, and how a potential player is going to be treated. Yes, those players have to be coached, too. But Pitt is in the worst conference in the country. Most of these recruits were coming here because of Wannstedt. Now, they will be going elsewhere so they can be seen on TV and have a chance, perhaps, to play in the professional ranks.
Haywood is now AD Steve Pederson’s man. If this doesn’t work out, both men will go down with the ship. Stay tuned.
When last we left the Steelers, they had played the New York Jets, then the Carolina Panthers. Quite simply put, after the way they played against the Jets, I decided to watch the Penguins-Washington Capitols game last Thursday, then I put on the Steeler game. That is how disgusted I was with the way they played two Sundays ago. There is no excuse for playing that way at home. The Steelers have lost three games at home this season. What kind of home field advantage is that?
You have to play well at home, simply said. If you don’t, then how do you expect to play in the playoffs? They did play much better against Carolina. Then again, they should have played well against one of the worst teams in the league. But when you have a chance to wrap things up against a quality opponent like the Jets, you do it. The Jets were 0 for Pennsylvania throughout their existence. Not anymore, thanks to your beloved Steelers.
The only two losses on their schedule I can accept are New England and New Orleans. They had a chance to beat the defending Super Bowl champions, but that went by the wayside. And they simply weren’t prepared to play the Patriots. Other than that, they should only have two losses on their schedule.
So now, here is the situation. Go to Cleveland this week and beat the Browns and the division and the number two seed are wrapped up. Take care of your own business.
Somehow the Steelers backed into the playoffs after the loss to the Jets. I didn’t think that was possible. The Steelers can either earn the number two seed, or end up with the number six seed. You can do the math and figure out which one would better serve them.
While injuries are no excuse, this team has got to get healthy. And to quote Mike Tomlin, this is also an old team. The players may not like to listen to that, and perhaps that is a motivator on behalf of the coach, but there is no denying that, at least defensively, this team is on the wrong side of 30.
Believe it or not, the best thing for this team is Ben Roethlisberger. That night in Georgia seems like a distant memory, now, even though there are those out there who will likely never forgive him. And that is their prerogative. However, a team will only go as far as the quarterback will take them. And very few teams have franchise quarterbacks. You can get rid of a Super Bowl MVP wide receiver. It is a whole lot different under center.
Ironically, the offense is younger than the defense. Ben is only 28. Rashard Mendenhall is only in his third season. Mike Wallace is only in his second season. Emmanuel Sanders and Anthony Brown are rookies who have made solid contributions. What they have to do, now, is figure out ways to get the ball into the end zone instead of settling for field goals. If the best is yet to come, then this team might be alright. But, if this is the best they can muster, then they’re in trouble.
Some are saying this season has been reflective of the Super Bowl season two years ago. Maybe it is. However, in order to win a championship, you have to make plays and the Steelers haven’t done enough of that against quality opponents. Thus far, the four losses have occurred against Baltimore, New Orleans, New England, and the New York Jets. All are playoff, or playoff caliber, football teams. But those are also teams you should be able to beat. Only New England thoroughly whipped the Steelers. So, they need to find a way to win those other three games.
Can the Steelers win the Super Bowl? If everything falls into place, yes they can. Will they? That is a long way off and a lot of business left to be conducted. By securing the division and the number two seed, you are one win away from the championship game. Should someone upset the Patriots in New England, then the Steelers can host the AFC Championship. But, as mentioned earlier, I am not so sure that would be a good thing. Can the Steelers win the championship on the road as they did five years ago? They’ve proven to be road warriors, so that is not out of the realm of possibility.
This weekend will prove a lot. Last year in Cleveland the Steelers laid a huge egg. Cleveland is not playing bad football; just making a lot of mental mistakes. If the Steelers aren’t careful, they can lose this game. But, with everything on the line, I believe they are going to take care of business. If pride is any kind of motivating factor, they will be ready to go up to Cleveland and let loose, knowing a week of rest will be in the offing and at least one playoff game at home.
This is the final week of the regular season. Coaches have been fired and will be fired after the season is over. Those surviving will be making preparations for the playoffs, which is where every team wants to be. This year looks like it will be wide open in terms of whom can get to Dallas and Super Bowl XLV. Next week be a synopsis of the Cleveland game and a look ahead to wild card weekend in the NFL. This week also offers up the final Pick of the Week and the last Upset Special. This has been one unusual NFL season and it promises to finish on the same note.
Playoff picks will continue next week after this is all sorted out at the end of the day on Sunday. Final score from Cleveland; Steelers 28, Browns 13.
Week 16
Pick of the Week, Green Bay over Chicago (Season, 7 – 9)
Upset Special, Washington over New York Giants (Season, 4 – 12)
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