MY FAVORITE MIKE TOMLIN EXPRESSIONS

1. "Get a hat."


2. "Put your hand in the pile."


3. "Get a seat on the bus."


4. "I have no interest whatsoever in doing 'Hard Knocks' and hopefully Art Rooney feels the same way."


5. About the league office watching Steelers defensive players for illegal hits, "It would be hard for me to care less about what those people watch for."


6. "You are what you put on video tape in December."


7. "...particularly when you get to stadiums where the lights are on."


8. ..."light on your feet; thoughtfully non-rhythmic."


9. "Two dogs, one bone."

TRUE or FALSE: MY NO. 1 CONCERN IS STILL THE STEELERS' PASS DEFENSE?

True, for the following reasons:


1. Numbers 43 and 56 are the ONLY guys on the defense, other than perhaps Brett Kiesel (sorry), who have good enough hands and the football instincts to intercept a ball that's thrown in their vicinity.

2. Bryant McFadden has been so up and down the past few weeks that he can't be depended upon in a big game. Wait a minute, what's that in his hand? Has this photo been altered?

3. The effectiveness of pass rush has fallen off. This started against the Patriots and since then has only been truly successful against the Raiders (the game following the loss to the Patriots). Also, I am starting to become disenchanted with the 3-4 defense, particularly against very good QBs (a.k.a. Tom Brady).

4. You can't play bend-but-don't-break pass defense against everyone (e.g., against Tom Brady). Sorry, Mr. LeBeau. 

I guess this is where I posit my defensive strategy against the Patriots. You have to play a 4-3 to consistently beat them. You need four BIG pass rushers, not three and an LB. AND you have to take away the short passing game. Brady MAY beat your deep occasionally but he will KILL YOU with the short game, especially without a good pass rush. For the Steelers my strategy against the Patriots is a 4-2-5; four bigs, 2 LBs, and 5 DBs with press coverage.

5. I just read that Troy won't play against the Jets. Really, I'd rather have had him against the Jets than the Bengals but, who knew? This puts even more pressure on the offense against a much better defense than the "Bungles" and could be fatal.

JETS DEFENSE WATCHING FILM OF OPPONENTS HAMMERING BEN ROETHLISBERGER WITH IMPUNITY

THE ROAD TO A STEELERS FIRST ROUND BYE

 
1. Beat the New York Football Jets. Jets: 2009 Overachievers, 2010 Underachievers









2. New Orleans defeats Baltimore. New Orleans at Baltimore











3. Defeat the (now) 1-11 Carolina Panthers. 

4. Coast into Cleveland and leave without any significant injuries (no need to win if 1., 2. and 3. occur).

5. SEE YOU IN ROUND 2 OF THE PLAYOFFS.

"THE GUY WAS JUST TRYING TO TACKLE YOU."

This is the excuse-de-jour offered by NFL referees for ignoring "penalties" (head slaps, late hits, etc.) committed against Ben Roethlisberger. Yes, Mr. Goodell, and exactly what the hell does that have to do with the price of Nike knock-offs in China? If you saw a befuddled No. 7 petitioning the referees (Terry McCauley and Walt Coleman) the past two weeks this is what he got in return. 


Right now I'm waiting for Mike Tomlin to come down off his pedestal and start challenging this situation. With his players it's expected that they do whatever is necessary. Mike? Would BIll Chower have overlooked this on a now week-by-week basis? THAT Bill Chower of the "shove a photo into the ref's pocket at half-time over a too-many-men-on-the-field penalty." He would be apoplectic, spitting on every striped-shirt in the tri-state area. Mike gives them the "big eyes."


As Mike Prisuta said, "If it's not a conspiracy it's selective incompetence."