Steelers Today - A Pittsburgh Steelers blog

October 5, 2009
By Donald Starver

“Awesome, Awesome,Awesome, WHAT?!?, phew!!”
-Pam Prinz (via Facebook)

I don’t think that I could have summarized Sunday night’s game any better than Pam Prinz, one of my friends on Facebook, did in the above quote.

The Steelers played 3 awesome quarters, then tried to blow the game in the 4th quarter before finally pulling out a victory in the end.  “Phew!!” is right.

For the third consecutive week, the Steelers have suffered a 4th quarter meltdown which leaves fans asking “what is wrong with the 4th quarter defense?”

With 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Steelers led the Chargers 28-0, and most Steelers fans thought the game was in the bag.  After all, if the Chargers hadn’t been able to score in the first 43 minutes of the game, what could they possibly do with only 17 minutes left in the game?

But these are the 2009 Steelers, and they don’t seem to be satisfied unless they’ve left their fans on the verge of cardiac arrest.  So they found a way to let the Chargers back into the game.

After leading 28-0 with 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, the Steelers found themselves up by only 7 points with 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter.  Huh?

It took a field goal by Jeff Reed with 48 seconds remaining in the game to finally put the game safely out of reach and allow Steelers fans to breathe a sigh of relief.

Despite the close score, the Steelers were once again dominant.  They held the Chargers and their star running back LaDainian Tomlinson to a total of 16 rushing yards.  That’s right, 16.

The Steelers outgained the Chargers with 516 total yards versus only 270 for San Diego.  They also dominated the time clock, holding the ball for a full 40:20 while only allowing the Chargers 19:40 total time of possession.

But the real story of the game was Rashard Mendenhall.  After being benched last week because he didn’t know his playbook, Mendenhall got the start due to an injury to Willie Parker.  Mendenhall took advantage of his opportunity by rushing for 165 yards on 29 carries.  More importantly, many of those yards came on tough, physical runs between the tackles, something the Steelers had been unable to do up to this point.

RB Rashard Mendenhall

Mendenhall’s rushing success made things much easier for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who threw for 333 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Steelers win, combined with a Baltimore Ravens loss to the New England Patriots, leaves the Steelers only one game out of first place in the AFC North.

The AFC North leading Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals have to play one another next week, so if the Steelers can defeat the Detroit Lions, they will gain ground on at least one of their AFC North foes.

Ordinarily I’d feel very confident when the Steelers have back-to-back games against the lowly Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.  However, I know that this year’s Steelers team will find a way to make both of these games exciting to the very end.  That’s not a good thing in my opinion, but I’m starting to get used to it.

Now where did I put my heart medicine?

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Note:  If you haven’t already read our Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Diego Chargers Preview, please click here.

This week the San Diego Chargers invade Heinz Field to battle the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Each week we look at the key match-ups that may impact the outcome of Sunday’s game.  Here are this week’s key match-ups.

C Justin Hartwig vs. NT Ogemdi Nwagbuo
Ordinarily teams facing the Chargers have to deal with NT Jamal Williams.  Unfortunately, the 350 pound Williams is on  injured reserve, so instead the Steelers will have to face his replacement Ogemdi Nwagbuo.  Nwagbuo is 50 pounds lighter than Williams, and spent last season on the Chargers’ practice squad.  I’m sure that Steelers center Justin Hartwig is very happy to be facing the really fat replacement rather than the extraordinarily fat injured starter.  Advantage:  Steelers.

S Tyrone Carter vs. TE Antonio Gates
Even when Troy Polamalu is healthy, Chargers TE Antonio Gates is a difficult match-up.  Gates is tall (6’4″), and has great hands.  With Polamalu out with an injury, the responsibility of stopping Gates falls to Tyrone Carter.  Carter gives up 8 inches and 65 pounds to the much bigger Gates.  Needless to say, that’s not a good thing.  Sorry Tyrone, but it’s going to be a very loooooooong day for you.  Advantage:  Chargers

CB Ike Taylor vs. WR Vincent Jackson
Jackson is tall (6’5″) and fast, but Taylor is also tall (6’2″) and faster.  It will take a lot to shut down QB Philip Rivers’ favorite target, but Ike Taylor should be up to the challenge.  This should be one of the most exciting match-ups of the game.  Advantage:  Neither.

LBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley vs. Philip Rivers
Chargers QB Philip leads the NFL in passing.  He is a brash young quarterback who can pick teams apart if given time.  The only way to stop Rivers is to apply pressure and force him to hurry his passes.  That challenge will fall to linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley.  So far this season, Harrison has only 1 sack and Woodley has none.  That will have to change, or the Steelers could be in for a long day. Advantage:  Neither 

LaMarr Woodley

Rashard Mendenhall vs. his playbook
Last week Mendenhall was benched by coach Mike Tomlin because he did not know his playbook.  One week later, Willie Parker is likely to be out due to turf toe, and Mendenhall may get the start.  Is it realistic to believe that Mendenhall could successfully learn the plays in one week?  After all, this is Mendenhall’s second season with the Steelers.  If he couldn’t learn the plays during the course of 2 training camps and a full season, why should we believe that he can learn them in one week?  I remember watching Mendenhall run into Ben Roethlisberger during a game earlier this season.  Hopefully, we won’t see any more mental gaffes from Mendy.  Advantage: Playbook.

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Here is Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s press conference on the upcoming game against the San Diego Chargers.

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October 2, 2009
By Donald Starver

After 2 straight losses, the Steelers will attempt to regain their winning ways this Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.  The game will begin at 8:20 PM (ET), and will be nationally televised on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

The Steelers have never lost a game to the Chargers in Pittsburgh during the regular season.  That’s right, NEVER.  The Chargers’ only win in Pittsburgh came in the 1994 AFC Championship Game.

The Chargers enter the game with a 2-1 record.  Their lone loss came in week 2, when they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 26-31.

Like the Steelers, the Chargers have been playing without one of their star players.  LaDainian Tomlinson injured his ankle in week 1, and has missed the last two games.  If Tomlinson can’t play, the Chargers will have to rely on Darren Sproles to lead their rushing attack.

Despite missing Tomlinson, the Chargers offense has been potent.  Chargers QB Philip Rivers leads the NFL with 991 passing yards through 3 games.  Rivers leads a Chargers offense that reminds some of the old  “Air Coryell” Chargers offense.

Chargers QB Philip Rivers

In his last two games, Rivers has passed for 739 yards (303 vs. Miami, and an amazing 436 versus Baltimore’s normally stout defense).  That’s the most yards by a Chargers QB in a 2-game stretch since Dan Fouts threw for 784 yards in 1985.

What makes the Chargers’ passing attack so difficult to stop is their collection of big receivers.  Wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd are both 6’5″.  Tight end Antonio Gates, another Chargers receiving threat, is 6’4″.  This is going to create match-up problems for the Steelers’ defensive backs.  Cornerback Ike Taylor is 6’2″, however CB Willie Gay is only 5’10″.  The Steelers’ safeties aren’t big either.  Safety Ryan Clark is 5’11″, and safety Tyrone Carter is 5’8″.

The Chargers’ defense is also depleted.  Linebacker Shawne Merriman did not practice on Thursday due to a groin injury.  He will be a game-time decision.

The Chargers will also be playing without massive nose tackle Jamal Williams.  The Chargers’ 350 pound lineman is out for the season with a tricep injury.  His backup, Ogemdi Nwagbuo was a member of the Chargers’ practice squad last year.  Nwagbuo is 50 lbs. lighter than Jamal Williams, and will not pose the challenge that Williams does.

As Steelers fans know, the nose tackle is the most important position on a 3-4 defense.  So playing against Nwagbuo may be just what the Steelers offense needs to get their running game in gear.

The Steelers’ running game looked much improved last week, as Willie Parker rushed for 93 yards on 25 carries.  Perhaps the running game will get a boost this week.  The team signed RB Carey Davis this week.  Davis had been released after Steelers training camp, but was still available when Frank Summers suffered a mysterious back injury (am I the only one who thinks that the only thing on Summers that is injured is his blocking ability?).

Steelers RB Carey Davis

The Steelers passing game should also be improved, as wide receiver Shaun McDonald will probably replace Limas Sweed on the active list for the game.  After dropping a sure touchdown pass in last week’s game, Sweed has been dropped to the bottom of the Steelers’ WR depth chart.

As much as I’d like to predict a big win by the Steelers, we know that the Steelers never seem to win by a big margin.  Instead, they like to keep their fans on the verge of cardiac arrest until the final seconds of the game.  With that in mind, I predict the Steelers will win a close game by a score of 21-17.

Note:  To check out our Steelers vs. Chargers key match-ups, please click here.

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Steelers Today has hooked up with 31 other NFL bloggers from around the country to do a bloggers’ mock draft. All 32 NFL teams are represented in the mock draft.

The mock draft is sponsored by Cleveland Browns blog No Logo Needed. For more details on the bloggers’ mock draft, click here.

With the sixteenth pick of the 2009 NFL Draft the San Diego Chargers blog BoltHype selects…

Last year, the Chargers were poised to select an offensive tackle with the 27th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.  Unfortunately for the Bolts, a record eight offensive tackles were selected in the first 26 picks.  By the time the Chargers came on to the clock, all the tackles were gone. This year, the Chargers are in a much better position to acquire an elite tackle.

Chargers GM AJ Smith has made it no secret that he is not happy about the way his team has struggled to run the football, and plans to address the issue:

“I just know we’re not good enough.  But I will say this, which I’ve said before: we need to have a solid, consistent running game.  We have to.”

While four offensive tackles have gone off the board at this point, there are still some options for the Chargers.  The Chargers could take a defensive lineman like Tyson Jackson.  Or they could draft Merriman’s potential replacement, Larry English.  And of course many people think the Chargers take a running back like Chris Wells or Knoshown Moreno here.  But for the Chargers, who need help at right tackle, Britton could be an easy selection.

The Chargers love experienced players, and while Britton is only a junior, he has started 37 consecutive games in the PAC-10.  Britton, a Southern California native, has ideal size, a massive wingspan, a nasty temperment, and leadership abilities.  Britton would bring excellent drive blocking skills to the right tackle position and allow the team some flexibility when calling run plays.  Britton is also a pretty solid athlete and has the speed to pull.

Overall, I think the Chargers head into the first round looking for an offensive tackle if the right one is there.  I think they’d also consider help along the front seven defensively.  But in this scenario, I think Britton is a solid selection he could very well end up being a San Diego Charger when it is all said and done.

The draft results so far are shown below. Click on the individual pick to read the blogger’s rationale for his selection.

1. Detroit Lions: Mathew Stafford, QB (Georgia)
2. St. Louis Rams: Eugene Monroe, OT (Virginia)
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, LB (Wake Forest)
4. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Crabtree, WR (Texas Tech)
5. Cleveland Browns: Rey Maualuga, LB (Southern California)
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Jason Smith, OT (Baylor)
7. Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin, WR (Missouri)
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: B.J. Raji, DT (Boston College)
9. Green Bay Packers, Brian Orakpo, DE (Texas)
10. San Francisco 49ers, Everette Brown, OLB (Florida State)
11. Buffalo Bills, Clay Matthews, OLB (Southern California)
12. Denver Broncos, Malcolm Jenkins, CB (Ohio State)
13. Washington Redskins, Andre Smith, OT (Alabama)
14. New Orleans Saints, Brian Cushing, OLB (Southern California)
15. Houston Texans, Michael Oher, OT (Ole Miss)
16. San Diego Chargers, Eben Britton, OT (Arizona)

The New York Jets are on the clock.

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