Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

[Crash]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

That was the best in stride deep ball to Wallace yet. That is a simple fact.

No it isn't. Ben's throw to Wallace in Miami was better. The one in Detroit that Wallace dropped was better, and the one in Cincy where Wallace stepped out of bounds was better.

None of those were in a pre-season game either. It's an apples to oranges argument.

[Steelerphile]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

The stuff about how Dixon cannot read defenses and pass effectively is warmed over garbage from the Kordell era. Dixon definitely can see the receivers and pass effectively. Even though Leftwich did complete the bomb, I am still liking Dixon better.
The offense plays more uptempo and his running, when he needs to or wants to, is very effective.

Roethlisberger obviously has the arm to hit Wallace but Big Ben still has a tendency to hold the ball and double pump, and with Wallace he has to decide to pass to him and throw almost immediately.

I still like Logan a lot as a returner, better than Brown. The numbers game may get him. I hope not.

Sepulveda may not kick off much farther than Reed, but the play he made to tackle the return man on his punt shows why he should be the kickoff guy. Reed would not have made 1/100th of that kind of effort to tackle. I reiterate that with Sepulveda as the last line of defense, I guarantee no kickoffs to the house.

[Oviedo]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

My random thoughts on some previous comments:

1. Brown should win the KR return job and not because Logan was not drafted. Brown looked good and was a couple of trips away from big returns. That combined with his WR play makes him a keeper. Just can't see them keeping Logan at the risk of one less rookie WR or another RB.

2. ARE isn't going anywhere. As stated he is insurance if Hines goes down so you don't force a rookie in there at the same time Wallace is trying to get his feet under him as #1/#2 receiver.

3. Heath is going to be huge. Could see 90+ catches. Spaeth made a great catch. Worry less about Spaeth blocking and throw him the damn ball more. The kid has great hands and is a match up nightmare for LBs/Safeties. McHugh is a much better option than Johnson as the #3 TE. McHugh is a better blocker and can actually catch the ball.

4. Lewis and Burnett are the real deal. Butler looks very good and versatile. Why are we keeping Gay on the roster? Gay = Hank Poteat.

5. You can see that Kugler is doing something positive with the OL. IMO did well against one of the top 3 DLs in the NFL. Still room for improvement but seem on the right track.

6. Both Lefty and Dixon looked good. Lefty should start but we should roll Dixon in for certain series to force defenses to game plan for both.

7. For our rookie LBs, "Stevie Sly" has to make this roster somehow. He is very good. Worilds and Gibson didn't stand out good or bad...maybe that is OK.

8. On the OL, Urbik looked very good and Legursky did not. Pouncey should be starting Center. Not sure what to do with RT. Adams was crushing people run blocking but he is going to need help in pas blocking.

9. Don't feel really good about our stable of RBs. Lord help us if Mendy get hurt. Love Mendy in the passing game. I can see him getting 40+ receptions if they target him.

10. Finally, what the heck was Troy doing with his tackling? I know he has always been a "torpedoe tackler" but damn man aim the torpedo at the freaking ship you want to sink. I thought Troy had a horrible game.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

Wallace led the league in YPC last season. I don't think Leftwich played with us, right?

This whole notion that Ben doesn't have a deep ball or can't throw deep is laughable.

He struggled with his deep ball when he was wearing gloves in 2004 and 2005.

For his CAREER? Ben's deep ball ranks with the league's best.

Look it up.

Just like McNabb tonight, NFLN breaks in, "look at this deep ball by McNabb".

The pass was grossly underthrown. Not a peep.

I don't think people believe Ben does not have a deep ball. Appears to me that he under throws open WR's more often then not. Ben's deep ball needs improvement. All you have to do is watch with your own two eyes. That does not mean Ben is a bad player. It only means that he needs more consistency.

[Shawn]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

I focused on Hills for much of his PT. I believe him to be the real deal. He was bullying and pancaking guys. I didn't see anyone get around him. Keep our fingers crossed about him staying healthy. I would honestly considering trying him out at RT.

[stlrz d]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

Wallace led the league in YPC last season. I don't think Leftwich played with us, right?

This whole notion that Ben doesn't have a deep ball or can't throw deep is laughable.

He struggled with his deep ball when he was wearing gloves in 2004 and 2005.

For his CAREER? Ben's deep ball ranks with the league's best.

Look it up.

Just like McNabb tonight, NFLN breaks in, "look at this deep ball by McNabb".

The pass was grossly underthrown. Not a peep.

Ben said after the game that the ball came out of his hand wrong. It happens. He's human. But the haters will never accept that.

All through training camp the reports were that Ben had his timing down with Wallace and was hitting him in stride deep. Then in his first game he tries to make a tough throw on the run and the ball comes out funny...and we're right back to "Ben can't throw the ball deep".

[feltdizz]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

When people say Mendenhall needs to protect the ball are they hating?

If Ben is "human" why do you feel the need to make excuses for his mistakes?

[stlrz d]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

When people say Mendenhall needs to protect the ball are they hating?

Saying Ben should not have attempted that pass is not hating. It was a very difficult throw.

Saying Ben can't throw the ball deep is not true, and therefore, is hating. Or a complete lack of understanding what one is seeing. Take your pick.

[stlrz d]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

Btw, I was just kind of skipping through the game and the announcer (Papa?) didn't say "porn" he said "foreign".

[feltdizz]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

When people say Mendenhall needs to protect the ball are they hating?

Saying Ben should not have attempted that pass is not hating. It was a very difficult throw.

Saying Ben can't throw the ball deep is not true, and therefore, is hating. Or a complete lack of understanding what one is seeing. Take your pick.

I didn't read where he shouldn't have thrown it but he clearly underthrew him.

You may not agree with the terminology but if Ben is underthrowing Wallace this year when he is wide open it's a problem. What people are seeing is Wallace 5 yards behind his man and the ball not getting there...

I know you feel as though you have the correct answer to all of this but you can't correct it with words. The ball has to come out faster so those TD's aren't INT's.

[Crash]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

What people are seeing is Wallace 5 yards behind his man and the ball not getting there...

But they ignore when the ball DOES get there.

That's the problem.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

I focused on Hills for much of his PT. I believe him to be the real deal. He was bullying and pancaking guys. I didn't see anyone get around him. Keep our fingers crossed about him staying healthy. I would honestly considering trying him out at RT.

Hills will make the team if he truly improved. It also speaks to the notion of why coaches keep players around. Players show potential that coaches can't ignore. Coaches know that players bloom at different paces. Many fans don't recognize or see potential and think players are bust and should be cut.

[stlrz d]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

When people say Mendenhall needs to protect the ball are they hating?

Saying Ben should not have attempted that pass is not hating. It was a very difficult throw.

Saying Ben can't throw the ball deep is not true, and therefore, is hating. Or a complete lack of understanding what one is seeing. Take your pick.

I didn't read where he shouldn't have thrown it but he clearly underthrew him.

And Ben clearly stated that the ball came out of his hand wrong. Anyone watching could see that ball fluttering around. Ben doesn't throw passes that flutter that badly normally so it's clear he didn't release it properly.

I know you feel as though you have the correct answer to all of this but you can't correct it with words. The ball has to come out faster so those TD's aren't INT's.

And that is a TIMING issue, not an under throwing issue. Under throwing indicates a lack of arm strength. That is not an issue for Ben. His arm is plenty strong.

That was a broken play and Ben was scrambling to buy time. To expect a guy to make a difficult throw like that accurately every time is simply a fantasy.

Crash - That is the truth. When he throws a good deep ball on time it either goes unnoticed or people say stupid things like, "It's about time".

[feltdizz]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

What people are seeing is Wallace 5 yards behind his man and the ball not getting there...

But they ignore when the ball DOES get there.

That's the problem.

Who ignores it? Are you really that sensitive and that juvenile that you need to remind fans that Ben has thrown the ball to Wallace before?

Do fans really have to acknowledge the good plays from the past year everytime they talk about an INT or a fumble or a missed tackle?

[Eddie Spaghetti]

Re: Thoughts??? Preseason Game 2

Ramon Foster had another very solid performance.

but Urbik fans never seem to notice.