Bye - Week Discussion: A Black and Gold Superbowl 44

[AngryAsian]

Get ready boys and girls. Won't be too surprising if you see a Saints/Steelers Superbowl in 44. We already have seen first hand what this team is capapble of... but the Saints look scary good. A legit running game with the two headed monster of Thomas/Bell. A corp of receivers 4 people deep Colston, Henderson, Meachum, Roby... and Shockey to boot. A defense that seems to get the job done late in games. And of course the backbone and leader of their squad, Drew Brees. Gotta give props to a guy very unassuming but just goes out and wills his team to wins.... a lot like our QB.

I consulted the green tea leaves and they say it will be A Black and Gold Superbowl.

[skyhawk]

I would have to agree with the Saints. But what do you think the reasons that the Steelers look scary good enough to make it to the SB44 with them?

[AngryAsian]

I would have to agree with the Saints. But what do you think the reasons that the Steelers look scary good enough to make it to the SB44 with them?


I said I thought "the Saints look scary good... and with regard to our beloved Steelers, we have seen first hand "what their capable of doing." I guess like any other rabid fan, I'm alway hopeful that my team will make it to the big dance... especially when I've seen them do it 2 out of the last 4 years. Do I think we have areas to take care of to even be in contention to be one of the league's "elite" team's? Absolutely... but like the other championship seasons, we go about our business winning one game at a time and slowly build momentum and then we start taking out one opponent at a time. We don't win decisively... we never have. But the point is, when it counts, we pound the f'ck out our opponents and get the wins when it counts most. I think that's been the hallmark of this incarnation of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I have faith that this season will again unfold like the other two previous seasons.... getting hot at the end and beating up people in the playoffs.

GO STEELERS!!!

[flippy]

The Saints are going to have a tough time getting past the Eagles, Minny, and AZ come playoff time. I'm not sold on the Saints.

[SteelAbility]

Agreed on the Saints. Not so sure on the Steelers. As much as I would love to believe it, I think we are all seeing problems on D.

[JTP53609]

you forgot to add the overhyped reggie bush to the list of offensive threats.....he along with that whole draft class of 2006 was the most overrated class in a long time, "experts" like the wow effect more than football players, so i guess we should not be surprised

[proudpittsburgher]

you forgot to add the overhyped reggie bush to the list of offensive threats.....he along with that whole draft class of 2006 was the most overrated class in a long time, "experts" like the wow effect more than football players, so i guess we should not be surprised


And all the crap Houston got for passing on Bush to take Mario Williams. People are a bit more silent, now.

[JTP53609]

you forgot to add the overhyped reggie bush to the list of offensive threats.....he along with that whole draft class of 2006 was the most overrated class in a long time, "experts" like the wow effect more than football players, so i guess we should not be surprised


And all the crap Houston got for passing on Bush to take Mario Williams. People are a bit more silent, now.

haha, those "people" can dish out the talk but when they are wrong they move on to someone else to bash and be wrong about, those same "people" are the "experts" who are bandwagon commentators. I always love when they give their expert super bowl pics in august, than they change it around in november than during playoff time they change it around again. those experts have the same insight as you and I and everyone else who is a FAN......i just laugh when they show a certain player and tell us why he is playing well, the reason is because he has 15 TD's and only 5 interceptions, or because he has a 6.0 ypc average..... :Blah

[stlrz d]

Agreed on the Saints. Not so sure on the Steelers. As much as I would love to believe it, I think we are all seeing problems on D.

Can you point to any D in the league this season that is dominating in every aspect of the game? The rules continue to change to favor the offense. The Brady rule is the latest in a long line of rules designed to give the offense an advantage.

What you saw in the 4th qtr of the Vikings game was reminiscent of what we saw from our D last season.

I don't recall who started the prediction thread so I don't know where to dig it up, but my prediction was a Steelers/Saints match up in Miami.

:tt2

[fezziwig]

A Super Bowl betweeen two fat striped teams. Saints have as good as chance as any but who knows what team will be the dark horse at the end of the season ?

If the Steelers can get things in gear ( i think they will ) then, we have a chance. I think there are more talented teams this season than last. Bengals look good, Ravens look good, Colts are on a roll and the NFL wants and is trying its best to have the patriots win it all.


All you need to do in the NFC is win to get to the Super Bowl. All you have to do in the AFC is figure out how to beat the refs in a game against the Cheaters. The Brady rule will get the Cheaters far.

[SteelAbility]

Agreed on the Saints. Not so sure on the Steelers. As much as I would love to believe it, I think we are all seeing problems on D.

Can you point to any D in the league this season that is dominating in every aspect of the game? The rules continue to change to favor the offense. The Brady rule is the latest in a long line of rules designed to give the offense an advantage.

What you saw in the 4th qtr of the Vikings game was reminiscent of what we saw from our D last season.

I don't recall who started the prediction thread so I don't know where to dig it up, but my prediction was a Steelers/Saints match up in Miami.

:tt2

I agree with you to a great extent. The rules are handcuffing D to promote scoring because that apparently sells, allowing the league to create its own "super heros." I don't think there is a D that is dominating every aspect. I think several Ds are clearly better than ours (right now) ...

DEN
MIN
IND
NE
NYJ
GB

I think several other Ds could have an argument for being about the same or slightly better.

Our D is apparently dominant for 3 quarters. It's that 4th quarter that is very concerning to me as we have consistently given up either long drives, game winning drives, or quick scores:

CHI (gave up the drive for the GW FG)
CIN (gave up the drive for the GW TD)
DET (allowed them to about the 20, then sack-sack-sack)
SD (I believe we gave up 2 very quick scores not counting the PR debacle)
MIN (gave them 2 drives inside the 20 ... I won't count the last one, garbage time)

In two of the above 5, the D came up big despite giving some ground (DET, MIN). I'm not comfortable with 40%, especially playing playoff teams with playoff focus.

[JTP53609]

A Super Bowl betweeen two fat striped teams. Saints have as good as chance as any but who knows what team will be the dark horse at the end of the season ?

If the Steelers can get things in gear ( i think they will ) then, we have a chance. I think there are more talented teams this season than last. Bengals look good, Ravens look good, Colts are on a roll and the NFL wants and is trying its best to have the patriots win it all.


All you need to do in the NFC is win to get to the Super Bowl. All you have to do in the AFC is figure out how to beat the refs in a game against the Cheaters. The Brady rule will get the Cheaters far.


I cannot recall the *s ever getting a favorable call in the playoffs...cough, cough TUCK RULE, cough.....

[stlrz d]

I have to disagree with your list. All of those defenses have issues as well.

Every defense does this year. There is no clear cut best D out there.

So if our D plays their game and the O doesn't take the foot off the gas we are as good as any team in the league.

[SteelAbility]

I do want to say that we are a "Woodley wake up from sleep" away from being dominant for four quarters. He got a "look what I found" gift on Sunday, but did very well with his handling of that gift. Hopefully that will get him started.

[pfelix73]

Agreed on the Saints. Not so sure on the Steelers. As much as I would love to believe it, I think we are all seeing problems on D.

Can you point to any D in the league this season that is dominating in every aspect of the game? The rules continue to change to favor the offense. The Brady rule is the latest in a long line of rules designed to give the offense an advantage.

What you saw in the 4th qtr of the Vikings game was reminiscent of what we saw from our D last season.

I don't recall who started the prediction thread so I don't know where to dig it up, but my prediction was a Steelers/Saints match up in Miami.

:tt2

I agree with you to a great extent. The rules are handcuffing D to promote scoring because that apparently sells, allowing the league to create its own "super heros." I don't think there is a D that is dominating every aspect. I think several Ds are clearly better than ours (right now) ...

DEN
MIN
IND
NE
NYJ
GB

I think several other Ds could have an argument for being about the same or slightly better.

Our D is apparently dominant for 3 quarters. It's that 4th quarter that is very concerning to me as we have consistently given up either long drives, game winning drives, or quick scores:

CHI (gave up the drive for the GW FG)
CIN (gave up the drive for the GW TD)
DET (allowed them to about the 20, then sack-sack-sack)
SD (I believe we gave up 2 very quick scores not counting the PR debacle)
MIN (gave them 2 drives inside the 20 ... I won't count the last one, garbage time)

In two of the above 5, the D came up big despite giving some ground (DET, MIN). I'm not comfortable with 40%, especially playing playoff teams with playoff focus.



Not so sure I agree with you on your statement about those D's you have listed above as better than ours. GB? NE? IND? MINN?

[SteelAbility]

I have to disagree with your list. All of those defenses have issues as well.

Every defense does this year. There is no clear cut best D out there.

So if our D plays their game and the O doesn't take the foot off the gas we are as good as any team in the league.

I put MIN in that list mistakenly. Other than that, every single team in that list has given up less than we have. We have given up 128 points (35 on INTs and STs)

Denver 66 (in 6 games ... extrapolate out to 77)
IND 77 (6 games ... 89.3 pace for 7 games)
NE 98 (7 games)
NYJ 104 (7 games) How'd this D fair against the best O in the league, New Orl?
GB 96 (6 games ... 122 pace for 7 games)

[SteelAbility]

By the way, MIN has given up 148 points. However, they have given up ...

PR for TD (Josh Cribbs)
TD to Browns (in total garbage time)
Blocked Punt returned for TD (SF)
AP fumble returned for TD (GB)
TD to Rams (in total garbage time up 31-3 late in the game)
2 TDs to Steelers (fumble returned and INT returned)

That's 49 points. Meaning that their D gave up 113 total points (148 - 49 + 14 from garbage time TDs), 99 meaningful points. Our D has given up 93 points (all meaningful). This makes them about equal to our D. So, I would say MIN at least belongs in the "arguably about equal" list.

[JTP53609]

I have to disagree with your list. All of those defenses have issues as well.

Every defense does this year. There is no clear cut best D out there.

So if our D plays their game and the O doesn't take the foot off the gas we are as good as any team in the league.

I put MIN in that list mistakenly. Other than that, every single team in that list has given up less than we have. We have given up 128 points (28 on INTs and STs)

Denver 66 (in 6 games ... extrapolate out to 77)
IND 77 (6 games ... 89.3 pace for 7 games)

NE 98 (7 games)
NYJ 104 (7 games) How'd this D fair against the best O in the league, New Orl?
GB 96 (6 games ... 122 pace for 7 games)


the colts have looked good but i want to see them play a tough physical game before I put them up there, they got destroyed by the dolphins, but peyton was on his game that night, they had 15 minutes on offense, it was something like 44:50 seconds to 15:10...the broncos have been impressive, i will give it to them, well see how they do the next two weeks, but i still have hope that we are in the mix with 2 or 3 teams in the afc....not that surprising

[skyhawk]

The Saints are going to have a tough time getting past the Eagles, Minny, and AZ come playoff time. I'm not sold on the Saints.

They look tough. They have a potent offense and a effective and scoring D. I am sold. How can one not be?

[AngryAsian]

I saw the Saints battle a hostile opposing crowd and come back from a 24-3 deficit while overcoming turnovers. Their free-agent acquisition in Sharper, leads the league in INTs with 6 in as many games. They're #11 in total defense.... and that's plenty good when you have an offense rated #1 in pts. per game, yards per game, and total points scored. I'm sold... this team will be representing the NFC in this year.

[stlrz d]

I have to disagree with your list. All of those defenses have issues as well.

Every defense does this year. There is no clear cut best D out there.

So if our D plays their game and the O doesn't take the foot off the gas we are as good as any team in the league.

I put MIN in that list mistakenly. Other than that, every single team in that list has given up less than we have. We have given up 128 points (35 on INTs and STs)

Denver 66 (in 6 games ... extrapolate out to 77)
IND 77 (6 games ... 89.3 pace for 7 games)
NE 98 (7 games)
NYJ 104 (7 games) How'd this D fair against the best O in the league, New Orl?
GB 96 (6 games ... 122 pace for 7 games)

You have to look beyond just the statistics man.

You also have to look at the flow of the game. LeBeau plays a soft zone when we have a lead. That leads to teams getting easy yardage...and points as well.

[TallyStiller]

The Steelers' OFFENSE is the unit that's going to take them where they're going to go this year... and that unit, when clicking, has been scary good (see 1st half, San Diego). I'm waiting for Ben & Co. to put 4 quarters together, but this unit can step up and control games like Terry & Co. did in '78/'79..

As for the D, look at the points OUR turnovers/ ST's have allowed... Pick 6 by the Bungles... Pick 6 by Detroit... Punt return no whistle bullspit piece o' garbage against San Diego... Cribbs houses kickoff for the Stains... Harvin likewise for Minny. We've given up an average of 5 non defensive points a game ourselves. 10 for Tennessee, 17 for Chicago, 16 for Cincy, 21 for San Diego, 13 for Detroit, 7 for Cleveland, 10 for Minny = 94 in 7 games. Average = 13.4 per, with no opponent over 21. We're fine defensively.

Yes, there have been some crunch time issues, but the offense keeps floundering and letting beaten teams hang around... If we get points at the end of the half in Cincy, they fold. Reed shanks 2 easy kicks in Chicago. Mendy fumbles in the red zone vs Minny. 4 turnovers against Cleveland. Ifr the offense takes care of it's business, we're 7 - 0. As it is, we're under the radar... a great place to be as a Super Bowl champ. Our team will round into shape and we'll be there come February.

As for an opponent, The Saints have the feel of the '99 "Greatest Show on Turf" Rams to me this year. Them vs. the Vikings would be an epic NFC playoff battle. One of those 2 looks good to win it, but it's early, and I don't watch the NFC as close as I do the AFC, so unlike the idiots at ESPN, I won't speculate about that which I don't understand.

[skyhawk]

The Steelers' OFFENSE is the unit that's going to take them where they're going to go this year... and that unit, when clicking, has been scary good (see 1st half, San Diego). I'm waiting for Ben & Co. to put 4 quarters together, but this unit can step up and control games like Terry & Co. did in '78/'79..

As for the D, look at the points OUR turnovers/ ST's have allowed... Pick 6 by the Bungles... Pick 6 by Detroit... Punt return no whistle bullspit piece o' garbage against San Diego... Cribbs houses kickoff for the Stains... Harvin likewise for Minny. We've given up an average of 5 non defensive points a game ourselves. 10 for Tennessee, 17 for Chicago, 16 for Cincy, 21 for San Diego, 13 for Detroit, 7 for Cleveland, 10 for Minny = 94 in 7 games. Average = 13.4 per, with no opponent over 21. We're fine defensively.

Yes, there have been some crunch time issues, but the offense keeps floundering and letting beaten teams hang around... If we get points at the end of the half in Cincy, they fold. Reed shanks 2 easy kicks in Chicago. Mendy fumbles in the red zone vs Minny. 4 turnovers against Cleveland. Ifr the offense takes care of it's business, we're 7 - 0. As it is, we're under the radar... a great place to be as a Super Bowl champ. Our team will round into shape and we'll be there come February.

As for an opponent, The Saints have the feel of the '99 "Greatest Show on Turf" Rams to me this year. Them vs. the Vikings would be an epic NFC playoff battle. One of those 2 looks good to win it, but it's early, and I don't watch the NFC as close as I do the AFC, so unlike the idiots at ESPN, I won't speculate about that which I don't understand.

Nice observations. I like. :tt2

[SteelAbility]

The Steelers' OFFENSE is the unit that's going to take them where they're going to go this year... and that unit, when clicking, has been scary good (see 1st half, San Diego). I'm waiting for Ben & Co. to put 4 quarters together, but this unit can step up and control games like Terry & Co. did in '78/'79..

As for the D, look at the points OUR turnovers/ ST's have allowed... Pick 6 by the Bungles... Pick 6 by Detroit... Punt return no whistle bullspit piece o' garbage against San Diego... Cribbs houses kickoff for the Stains... Harvin likewise for Minny. We've given up an average of 5 non defensive points a game ourselves. 10 for Tennessee, 17 for Chicago, 16 for Cincy, 21 for San Diego, 13 for Detroit, 7 for Cleveland, 10 for Minny = 94 in 7 games. Average = 13.4 per, with no opponent over 21. We're fine defensively.

Yes, there have been some crunch time issues, but the offense keeps floundering and letting beaten teams hang around... If we get points at the end of the half in Cincy, they fold. Reed shanks 2 easy kicks in Chicago. Mendy fumbles in the red zone vs Minny. 4 turnovers against Cleveland. Ifr the offense takes care of it's business, we're 7 - 0. As it is, we're under the radar... a great place to be as a Super Bowl champ. Our team will round into shape and we'll be there come February.

As for an opponent, The Saints have the feel of the '99 "Greatest Show on Turf" Rams to me this year. Them vs. the Vikings would be an epic NFC playoff battle. One of those 2 looks good to win it, but it's early, and I don't watch the NFC as close as I do the AFC, so unlike the idiots at ESPN, I won't speculate about that which I don't understand.

I hear what you are saying and if you wanted to take the D analysis further you would SUBTRACT the 14 points we scored against the Vikes to get the total "effective points per game" they have given up which brings it to 11.7. That's great. My concern is twofold. First, the fourth quarter. As a team, both O and D, we are getting handled in the 4th quarter. Fortunately we have built leads going into the 4th, but come playoff time the lead-building is not going to be so easy. Which is my second concern ...

To date, our opponents collective record is 19-26 (0.422), 17-21 if you don't count games against the Steelers (0.447). That is not playoff-caliber competition. In the playoffs you usally play a 10-6/11-5 teams (0.625-0.688). Then, when the 4th quarter rolls around and there is no lead or just a small lead ... ????

I believe our game in Denver has strong potential to define the rest of the way.

I also think the problems are fixable. It's an issue of how much time, how much damage to the playoff position if any and, of course, managing all of that through injuries.

[birtikidis]

Agreed on the Saints. Not so sure on the Steelers. As much as I would love to believe it, I think we are all seeing problems on D.

Can you point to any D in the league this season that is dominating in every aspect of the game? The rules continue to change to favor the offense. The Brady rule is the latest in a long line of rules designed to give the offense an advantage.

What you saw in the 4th qtr of the Vikings game was reminiscent of what we saw from our D last season.

I don't recall who started the prediction thread so I don't know where to dig it up, but my prediction was a Steelers/Saints match up in Miami.

:tt2
the only rule that i've seen lately that helps the defense is the hines ward rule. of course that hurts us!