AGREE TO DISAGREE: BENGALS

Again, my fearless responses to the statements posed on the Steelers' web site program "Agree to Disagree."


I BLAME THE DEFENSE FOR THE SECOND LOSS TO BALTIMORE: Offensive failures in the red zone were the difference maker and have been a problem all year despite winning six games. 

I THINK LESS OF THE STEELERS' SB CHANCES AFTER THE GAME WITH BALTIMORE: When one considers the team had to win eight consecutive games in the 2005 season just to make the playoffs and eventually win the SB I think they CAN still get to the SB but it's going to be much more difficult. Plus, this is not the same team in some respects. In particular they don't have a guy named Jerome Bettiss.

EFFORTS SUCH AS LAST SUNDAY'S WILL BE GOOD ENOUGH THE REST OF THE WAY: With respect to the  result, I would say no, and that's all that counts. To quote Mike Tomlin, "They don't give you anything for style points in this league."

I'M BUYING THE BENGALS: At the beginning of the season I counted the two games against the Bengal's as wins; something I do almost every year. Unfortunately, the Bengals took Andy Dalton in the draft (whom I thought should have been a first round choice) and now they have an offense. They're offensive play this season with Dalton reminds me of the Steelers in Roethlisberger's rookie season (remember, 15-1), and they're playing a bit of defense as well. Answer, "Yes, I buy the Bengals." Now the Steelers need them to beat the Ravens twice.

- PREDICTION -

STEELERS 27 BENGALS 20

"You know what they call almost winning... losing." -- Mike Prisuta

PENN STATE FIRES PATERNO

Nothing more need be said but there will be more to go through. Who'd have thought it would end this way?

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_766536.html

POST RAVENS MIKE TOMLIN PRESS CONFERENCE

INJURIES:

• Sepulveda - Knee (IR)
• Sanders - Knee (Orthroscopic surgery and out for Bengals)
• Woodley - Hamstring (Probably out against the Bengals)
• Cotchery - Knee swelling (Questionable for Bengals)
• Arnez Battle - Hamstring (Questionable for Bengals)

OTHERS:

• James Harrison picked his game up appropriately based on the importance of the contest. It will be nice to see how the defense plays once Woodley comes back if Harrison can maintain this level of intensity.

• Chris Hoke has been demoted to the D-Line "spare part" role as Steve McClendon has played into the top five rotation.

MICS:

• Tomlin quote: "To be quite frank it stung as much yesterday as it did Sunday night, as it should... I truly believe it will strengthen us moving forward." And moving forward is not going to be the cakewalk it appeared to be prior to Sunday night.

PENGUINS: A GOOD START, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW YOU FINISH

With so many games in the first month of the season and so many injuries, it's amazing and impressive that the Pens have managed a 9-3-3 start. These guys have decided to a man that waiting for Sid to return was not an option. They want to put a stamp on this team as their own other than "Crosby and his posse." 

Staal: Simply the best two-way center in hockey.

Malkin: Looking like he is intent on finally playing up to his ability since the 2007-2008 season (106 points) leading the team admirably when Crosby went down.


Fleury: Simply, impressive. He has stopped 19 of the last 21 shootout shots against him, winning 8 of the last 9, and now has 30 shootout wins in his career.

Neal: Great start but let's see if he can have as good a second-half of a season as a first-half and beat the rap he's had so far in his career.


Letang: Continues to become one of the best two-way defenseman in the league.

END OF HIATUS

...I just needed some time to cool off.


Well, just when you think you're a sure bet to be standing outside the ring of musical chairs the last seven weeks of the season you find yourself back in the fray and now EVERY game is now important.


RE: RAVENS GAME--

1. Got to say it; hate the freaking "bubble screen" (and I can't tell you how many times I've said this in the past). If you watched the game you'll know what I mean.


2. Ben, are you with us or against us? Lately you've thrown at least one interception in EVERY CRITICAL game--AFC Championship, SB, Ravens Game 1, New England, Ravens Game II; need I say more. As the saying goes, "What have you done for us lately?"

3. I guess Harrison is healthy. When they get Woodley back it should be great but will it be soon enough? A lost to the Bengals next week and it's just about bye-bye since they're not in a division with three 4-4 teams at the top.

4. The kicking game is starting to look sub-par at best, particularly after loosing Sepulveda. Suisham is 50% between 40 and 50 yards! Most major college kickers now do better than that and EVERY NFL kicker does better than that. Again, "What have you done for me lately?"

5. Tomlin: Indecision on FG/punt on the Steelers' final possession? Really?

6. Another critical red zone failure? Too many, too often.


7. Ravens 14-21 on third down? What did the Steelers do against NE that they couldn't or didn't do against the Ravens in this regard?


8. What happened to the defense that held the greater Tom Brady to less than 200 net passing yards but made Joe Flacco look like the second coming of Johnny Unitas? 

9. With Harrison's performance perhaps they didn't miss Woodley that much (although he could have made the difference) but what about the other 10 guys? Since his pick-six in the AFC championship game against the Ravens three years ago, Troy Polamalu has almost disappeared from the contests. If the Ravens can do that why can't the Steelers do it to Terrell Suggs?

10. Things are VERY dicey right now. The Steelers season could go down he drain or move precipitously in that direction with even one more loss. Well, is NE going to lose again? Are the Ravens going to lose again (will the OTHER Joe Flacco reappear)? How good ARE the Bengals? Finishing THIRD in the division isn't going to cut it. It isn't always where you stand but how many teams do you have to jump over that counts. The picture will become clearer next Sunday, one way or the other.

NHL "REALIGNMENT" PROPOSAL

1. Drop all Divisions and Conferences. To hell with rivalries; they're overrated.


2. Every team plays every other team the same number of games (however that may work out). I'm tired of Western teams bitching about travel.


3. Every fan in every city gets to see all other players every year.


4. Eliminates meaningless Division and Conference "titles." You don't win the Cup, you don't win nothin'.


5. Seed the top 16 teams BY record (points, whatever) for the playoffs. No more Division winners sneaking in because their competition sucks.


Simple, effective. Eliminates confusion, tie-breakers, complaining, whining and bitching.


NEXT SUBJECT!

HIATUS

Deciding to take a hiatus from the Steelers. 


1. Tired of stupid play calling (and Arians in particular).


2. Tired of holding onto the ball for 50 sacks a season then throwing interceptions trying to make up for the loss in yardage. It's the guy's eighth season already and he's not learning.


3. Tired of the yo-yo seasons (SB, miss the playoffs, SB, miss the playoffs, SB, miss the payoffs). I though only the Bengals were this inconsistent.


Someone email me if they make the SB.

BLUE, BLUE MONDAY

Well... that's about the only thing that can come out of my brain right now.


Truly this almost makes the NE win moot unless by some miracle the Patriots happen to finish in a wild card position. The Steelers chances of winning their division, even with 7 games remaining is, I think, very low. They and the Ravens play basically the same schedule from here in except the Steelers play a so far much better San Francisco team than the Ravens toughest remaining opponent San Diego.


I actually turned the game off to let the DVR pad when it was 6-6. I checked my I phone near the end of "Desperate Housewives" before switching back to the game and saw the Steelers had been unable to score from the 4 yard line. Then upon returning to the game the Ravens were lined up for a field goal attempt to take the lead at 9-6. Since I was tired and since Hines Ward had gone out of the game earlier in the half I decided to go to bed.It seems to have been a intelligent move.


That's about all I can stand for right now...

LSU-ALABAMA (HO, HUM)

The short and sweet of it--Probably the second most disappointing game off all time with respect to the hype (ND-Michigan State 1966 was the most and still is). Three blown FG attempts by Alabama, a STUPID play call with Maze throwing an interception, another stupid play putting an injured Maze in to return a punt he obviously was unable to handle (turning the momentum completely around) two penalties and a sack on third down in OT and Alabama STILL almost wins? That is 3 and a half hours of my life I won't get back. "Where my gumbo?"

AGREE TO DISAGREE: STEELERS-RAVENS RE-MATCH

"THE TOM BRADY PUZZLE HAS BEEN SOLVED" --  Sort of. The key is in execution. If the Steelers can execute the way they did Sunday they have at least a 60% chance of beating the Patriots, particularly with the defense the Patriots have right now.

"THE RAVENS HAVE THE BEST DEFENSE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW" -- NFL, maybe; world, let's not get carried away. Ngata, Scruggs and Reed are among the best but the rest of their defense is just "guys". Pouncey has the toughest job--to control Ngata. Running backs must pick up Scruggs on blitzes. Roethlisberger must avoid Reed.

"YEAH, THROW IT 50 TIMES VS.THE RAVENS, TOO" -- Agree, as long as they are mostly SHORT passes. This is especially true against the Ravens. If Tom Brady can do it almost every week I think the Steelers can, too, particularly since the Steelers have a better corps of receivers.

"FORGET THE CUT BLOCKS THE RAVENS HAVE BECOME A SHOTGUN OFFENSE"--Beside the fact that I hate cut blocks and feel they should be eliminated from the game, I agree. When the Ravens offense has been most successful, they have used the shotgun extensively. This will especially be true if the Steelers can mount an effective pass rush. This is very likely since the Black and Gold will probably be playing with only one starting linebacker and he will beplayin gout of position. Will the Steelers use some 4-3 against the Ravens to help compensate for this? I say, yes.


NOTE: A quick "goodbye" to Daniel Sepulveda. Along with Aaron Smith I believe he has played his last game with the Steelers.