Keenan Lewis practices with 1st team defense

Keenan Lewis, the second year pro from Oregon practiced with the first team defense for the first time this training camp.

Lewis, who was injured the majority of last year has high expectations from the coaching staff and fans alike especially given the struggles last year with the loss of Polamalu. The steelers defense needs another playmaker in the secondary; lewis may be that guy.

Lewis has looked impressive in training camp and preseason. Although Lewis gave up a touchdown against the Detroit Lions, Lewis played well matched up against Calvin Johnson, one of the most talented and physically gifted receivers in the NFL.

Fantasy Focus: Steelers vs Bengals

This week kicks off another entry of our fantasy football prediction blog.  The Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals.  This may be a more difficult game than what most Steelers fans are anticipating.  The Bengals have 3 straight division games starting with the Steelers so expect them to try to set the tone against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger – Big Ben will rebound just fine against the Bengals defense.  The offense struggled last week to put points up on the board but they were able to move the ball against a solid Bears defense.  I see Big Ben and company putting up 27 points against the Bengals this week.

Hines Ward – Historically a Cincinnati killer (just ask Keith Rivers).  Ward is closing in on his 10,000 yards receiving mark and it very well could happen this week against the Bengals.

Santonio Holmes - Holmes had one of his worst performances in recent memory last week.  3 dropped balls including a tough but catchable winning TD catch capped off a disappointing day for Holmes.  Even though the weather was less than desirable and the field was messy, Holmes dropped several catchable balls that ended up as “drive killers”.  I expect Holmes to rebound and post a solid overall performance with over 100 yards and a TD.

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Parker / Mendenhall – Parker has been the most disappointing player on the team so far this season.  He’s not running the ball with any authority and he’s been “tip toeing” to the line of scrimmage.  Mendenhall might steal some of Parker’s opportunities and rightfully so.  It’s time for one of these two to step up and provide some sort of rushing attack.  The Bengals run defense has struggled so this might be a good game to get this offense going.

Heath Miller – Miller continues to be one of Roethlisberger’s favorite targets.  He’s consistent, has great hands, and picks up first downs.  With the offensive line struggling, Miller is a nice safety net for Big Ben.

Steelers Defense – Although the Steelers defense hasn’t necessarily struggled, they do have some flaws.  For one, the Steelers outside linebackers including Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), James Harrison and emerging star LaMarr Woodley only have a combined 2 sacks on the year.  Lawrence Timmons appears to be healthy which should hopefully add to the pass rush this week.  This is a shocking statistic that no one would have guessed going into the 2009-2010 season.  With the loss of Polamalu, Tyrone Carter was exposed by Jay Cutler last week being responsible for 2 touchdowns.

Cincinnati Bengals

Carson Palmer - If last game was any indication, Palmer appears to be healthy.  Palmer has one of the best deep balls in the game and is typically very accurate.  If the Steelers defense doesn’t get a pass rush against Palmer, it will be a long day for the Steelers and their fans.

Chad Ochocinco – Ochocinco has had just one 100-yard game and three touchdowns against the Steelers since Ike Taylor’s rookie season in 2003 so don’t expect much out of him today.   He talks a good game and is being outspoken against Steelers cornerbacks William Gay and Ike Taylor but until he produces on the field against the Steelers, I would steer away from picking Ochocinco.

Cedric Benson - Benson has been one of the bigger surprises this year for Cincinnati.  However, like most other running backs, expect Benson to struggle against the Steelers stellar run defense.  Don’t start Benson this week on your fantasy team.

Fantasy Football Pick of the Day: Santonio Holmes (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers)

Chad Ocho Stinko play doesn’t backup talk

Chad Ochocinco talks more than he plays.  ESPN relayed a comment that Ochocinco is going to make William Gay and

Ike Taylor “kiss the baby” this weekend.  What is he talking about?  When was the last time Chad Johnson (i.e. sorry Ochocinco) has done anything productive against the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Johnson has had just one 100-yard game and three touchdowns against the Steelers since Taylor’s rookie season in 2003.  Ike Taylor has owned Chad Johnson but you don’t hear Ike talking trash.  With the Steelers playing the Bengals twice a year, these statistics are not worth bragging about and are actually pathetic considering Johnson is supposedly Carson Palmer’s number one target.  Someone should relay to Chad that he should worry about production on the field rather than talk off the field.

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Johnson is very easily one of the most overrate player s in the league.  Didn’t he wear a jacket that said “Future HOF’er” on the back?  That’s laughable.  Johnson doesn’t have half the credentials needed to make it into the Hall of Fame.  Now, Hines Ward is a different story.  He’s Hall of Fame bound.  And how ironic is it that Hines Ward will likely pass his 10,000 receiving yard mark against the Bengals.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been consistently one of the worst, joke franchises in NFL history.  I actually feel sorry for Carson Palmer having to play for such a disgrace of a franchise and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson’s antics.

Below is a reminder of what is coming to Chad Ochocinco:

James Harrison on SNL

Watch a snippet of James Harrison on Saturday Night Live:

Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 Salaries

Steelers 2008 Salaries
Rk	Player	Salary (US$)
1	Ben Roethlisberger	$27,701,920
2	Max Starks	$6,899,800
3	James Farrior	$6,802,400
4	Hines Ward	$5,453,840
5	Ike Taylor	$4,643,360
6	Troy Polamalu	$4,625,000
7	Marvel Smith	$4,551,440
8	Casey Hampton	$4,100,960
9	Brett Keisel	$3,903,840
10	Willie Parker	$3,903,840
11	Kendall Simmons	$3,601,920
12	Aaron Smith	$3,255,760
13	Charlie Batch	$3,036,720
14	Rashard Mendenhall	$2,815,000
15	Larry Foote	$2,542,880
16	Lawrence Timmons	$2,199,760
17	Santonio Holmes	$2,176,920
18	Mewelde Moore	$2,005,760
19	Justin Hartwig	$1,980,760
20	Limas Sweed	$1,861,000
21	James Harrison	$1,806,720
22	Ryan Clark	$1,505,280
23	Deshea Townsend	$1,434,320
24	Jeff Reed	$1,430,280
25	Chris Kemoeatu	$1,423,240
26	Nate Washington	$1,419,880
27	Heath Miller	$1,347,260
28	Travis Kirschke	$1,133,360
29	Chris Hoke	$1,106,240
30	Greg Warren	$1,055,280
31	Tyrone Carter	$1,001,920
32	Trai Essex	$932,280
33	Nick Eason	$874,800
34	Mitch Berger	$870,000
35	Orpheus Roye	$870,000
36	LaMarr Woodley	$839,800
37	Bruce Davis	$800,626
38	Andre Frazier	$765,280
39	Keyaron Fox	$649,800
40	Byron Leftwich	$645,000
41	Bryant McFadden	$623,360
42	Sean McHugh	$605,000
43	Tony Hills	$599,500
44	Willie Colon	$451,720
45	Anthony Madison	$450,760
46	Arnold Harrison	$449,800
47	Anthony Smith	$448,840
48	Dennis Dixon	$425,000
49	Jon Dekker	$376,240
50	Matt Spaeth	$376,240
51	Darnell Stapleton	$376,240
52	Carey Davis	$375,760
53	Daniel Sepulveda	$375,760
54	William Gay	$374,800
55	Gary Russell	$370,000
56	Mike Humpal	$366,575
57	Dallas Baker	$301,720
58	Donovan Woods	$298,500
59	Scott Paxson	$295,000

Coach Lebeau Set to Retire?

Per a rumor by Pro Football Talk (PFT), Dick Lebeau may retire after Super Bowl XLIII.  As mostly everyone knows, Dick Lebeau is the beloved Steelers defensive coordinator and the inventor of the zone blitz schema. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers (not just the defense) should win this Super Bowl for their future ‘Hall of Fame’ coach Lebeau.  What would be a better treat then winning this one for him since he’s been so instrumental to the Steelers success both past and current.  His defense plays the way football was meant to be played.  In addition to winning Super Bowl XLIII for coach Lebeau, the Steelers players should carry their coach off the field on the player’s shoulders.  That’s the type of respect that Lebeau deserves. 

All current and past Steelers players feel strongly for the coordinator and praise him not just for his coaching ability and personality but they respect him as a ‘dad’ type figure.   In fact, many players have referred to him as coach ‘dad’.  Players love him, opposition fear him. 

Coach Dick Lebeau is well respect (and well deserved) not just throughout the Pittsburgh Steelers organization but also within that National Football League circles.  He was a Hall of Fame player (is not yet inducted but should be) and a legendary coach.  In fact, some coaches including Baltimore Ravens (now NYJ head coach) coach, Rex Ryan have even studied coach Leabeau’s defensive schemes and reused it within their own defensive schemes.  Lebeau has been praised by former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst as saying “Dick LeBeau is arguably the best ever to coach defense. … He has done it on such a consistent basis over a long period of time.”

Note to Steelers players…. Let’s win Super Bowl XLIII for Coach Dick Lebeau!

Steelers-Ravens Gameplan

Offense

The Steelers offense needs to be at the top of their game today versus the Ravens. The key to the Steelers is easy. They need to convert on critical third downs and do not, under any circumstances, turn the ball over. If the Steelers don’t turn the ball over, I believe they win this game. The Titans should have won last week against the Ravens, but turnovers was the deciding factor.

I expect the Steelers to open up the game in a spread offense. The Steelers should spread the Baltimore Ravens defense out with 4 and 5 wide receivers. The Ravens secondary is a bit beat up with Rolle out so this could result in Nate Washington having a big game.  This will neutralize the Ravens’ heavy blitzing and make a tough defense respect the Steelers passing game. The Steelers offense should not play conservative and tight. This will play right into the Ravens defensive plans which will make this game a much closer game than what it could be. Heath Miller and Mewelde Moore should pose significant receiving threats to the Ravens. Also, the offensive line will be a huge matchup against the Ravens imposing defensive front. The Steelers offensive line played their best game against the San Diego Chargers a week ago, but the Ravens are a much better and more aggressive defense. If Hartwig, Colon, Starks and company can keep Big Ben clean then the Steelers should be successful at Heinz Field today.

Defense

The #1 Steelers defense must play opportunistic football today at Heinz Field. The Steelers are relatively healthy today and will pose a huge challenge to the Baltimore’s rookie QB, Joe Flacco. Dick Lebeau will try to confuse Flacco will different defensive looks. Per ESPN, the Steelers defense are going into this game with over 100 defensive plays at their disposal. The Steelers defense must shut down the Ravens running attack early and often. This will put the game on Joe “cool” shoulders which is exactly what the Steelers want. If McClain and Ray Rice have success running the football, the Steelers could be in for a long frustrating day.

Expect Troy Polamalu to be all over the field again today. Troy will start things off supporting the run defense as being an ‘extra’ in the box. Then, he’ll drop back into a zone on obvious passing downs. Also, it is absolutely critical that LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison can get to Flacco today. Last game, the Steelers had trouble getting to the quarterback without sending more defenders than what the Ravens could block. This could expose our secondary and Flacco has the offensive line and the strong arm to make the Steelers defense pay for their mistakes. It is very important that the Steelers pass rush is at their best today. This will make Flacco make quick and possible poor decisions which could result in turnovers. Turnovers which will hopefully result in points in favor of the Steelers.

Predictions

Turnovers is the name of today’s game. If the Steelers o-line can protect Big Ben and give Willie Parker some room to run then I expect the Steelers to be victorious. If not, the Steelers could be in for a long and disappointing afternoon. The same goes for the Ravens, if the Steelers can stop the run, and get to Flacco early and often then the Steelers will have an excellent chance of winning today’s game. I am going to be optimistic in this prediction but I feel the Steelers win: 27-17.

Offensive Player Of The Game: Hines Ward

Defensive Player Of The Game: LaMarr Woodley

Big Snack Overweight, Again!

Casey Hampton has showed up overweight and out of shape to the Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 training camp resulting in him failing the traditional first-day run test.

This is nothing new as Hampton has had similar problems in the past regarding his weight and in-shape status. What is new is that Mike Tomlin set an example of Hampton by placing the 4-time Pro Bowler on the physically unable to perform list (PUP). Kudos to Coach Tomlin for making an example of the veteran Pro Bowler. Hopefully, publicly humiliating Hampton for being too fat will be a motivational tool for the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive anchor.

Hampton showed up at training camp listed at 6-0 325 but looked about 6-0 350+. This comes as a disappointment because Hampton should know better. He has completed these sprints before and he knows what it takes to finish them. Now, instead of practicing he has to focus on losing weight.

I understand Casey’s argument; I’ve done this for 7 years… When will I ever have to run 100 yards? Well Casey, hopefully never but that’s not the point. The point is you shouldn’t have eaten yourself overweight and out of shape. Hampton was injured for half of last year and he isn’t getting any younger at 30 years old. Additionally, the Steelers defensive line is extremely thin (not literally) and we can’t afford any injuries this year. As for his comment about making the pro bowl last year, he and Polamalu made it off of past reputation. They did not make it due to their on field productivity. He should take some notes from James Farrior. Farrior is a workaholic and works harder with age because he knows that it’s going to take that much more conditioning to compete with the younger players in their low 20’s that this league is now producing. Casey has had a knee problems and last time I checked carrying an additional 25 pounds will not help matters.

Let’s hope for Casey and the rest of the Steelers that this is a wake-up call. Thanks goodness the season his upon us. Here’s to a successful and injury-free training camp — Camp Tomlin part 2.

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