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Ed: Defense Smothering
SUNDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2010 18:51 WRITTEN BY ED BOUCHETTE
Is there a better defense in the NFL right now than the Steelers? This reminds me of those games in 1976 when Terry Bradshaw had a neck injury after the team started 1-4 with him. You'll never see a more dominant performance by a defense than that one that season as it threw shutout after shutout and just beat down everyone.
However, in these first two games and considering all the rules they've passed over the past 24 years to help offenses, it's hard to imagine a defense playing any better to open the season.
Seven turnovers! That's more than they've had in any game in 13 years. And they just slammed Chris Johnson. He had 8 yards in one game as a rookie. His 34 yards Sunday tied his second-lowest, plus he lost a fumble. He did not look as though he wanted to be in there at the end, which is what linebacker James Harrison said.
The Steelers have found a way to go 2-0 without Ben Roethlsiberger and the next two games are gravy because they can come out of this at 2-2 and be in good shape. However, they want to be in better same than that. And Mike Tomlin came out smoking yesterday, ripping those who thought his team could not win without Roethlisberger.
The Steelers were underdogs in their first two games and swept both of them, doing so without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the man who was supposed to replace him, Byron Leftwich.
“Regardless of our demise being reported, we expect to win,’’ Tomlin declared Sunday. “We’re pleased that we are 2-0 but we are not astounded by it. We’re capable. We’re a little bit annoyed to be quite honest about our premature reporting of our death.’’
Chris Hoke, starting for injured Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton, explained why his coach felt as he did.
“A lot of times, you guys don’t see what all goes on with our team,’’ Hoke said. “We know we’ve got a lot of great players out here. We’ve got a chip on our shoulder this year because of how things went down last year with our five-game losing streak. So, we have something to prove.
“So, sometimes when people writ ethat we’re not going to be very good or maybe they’ll go 2-2 or 1-3 when Ben’s out, that’s a lto fo the stuff that [ticks] us off.’’
Peter King, writing in Sports Illustrated before the season, picked the Steelers to win the Super Bowl.
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With one quarterback hurt and two injured, Tomlin is not sure what he will do as the Steelers prepare to play in Tampa next Sunday.
“I don’t know who is going to play quarterback next week. I know it won’t be me. I’m not good enough.’’
Dennis Dixon left the game with a left knee injury in the second quarter. Byron Leftwich returned to practice the past week and was listed as probable, two weeks after his left knee was injured, a second-degree MCL sprain. The Steelers released Leftwich on Saturday to make room for a sixth defesive lineman, Scott McLendon, because of the injury to Hampton.
That left Charlie Batch as the only healthy quarterback Sunday. The Steelers expect to re-sign Leftwich today and either he, Batch or even Dixon could start in Tampa.
“I always want to throw my hat in the ring,’’ Batch said. “It is just a matter of if the opportunity presents itself, I will be ready. You never know when your number is going to be called upon.’’
###
The Steelers looked to be okay with other injuries, even though players kept leaving the field with one form of physical ailment or another.
Guard Trai Essex left with an ankle injury but returned to play. Hoke left with a “stinger” in his shoulder but also left to play (McLendon replaced him for about six snaps and recovered a fumble).
Two other starting linemen, guard Chris Kemoeatu and tackle Flozell Adams, had to leave the game because they were deyhdrafted. They returned and the Steelers shuffled linemen in and out. Jonathan Scott, making his first start for the Steelers at left tackle for injured Max Starks, moved to right tackle when Adams went out and Tony Hills came in to play left tackle. Doug Legursky filled in at guard.
The only lineman who played every snap was rookie center Maurkice Pouncey.
“We have a lot of guys who are versatile, that can play any position,’’ Pouncey said. “It shows the flexibility of the offensive line and what guys are willing to do for the team.’’
###
Hines Ward, who had a career-high 108 yards for an opener the previous week, managed just one catch for nine yards Sunday. Nevertheless, it was enough to keep his streak of 180 consecutive games with at least one catch. That’s the fifth longest in NFL history and just three behind Art Monk for No. 4.
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SUNDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2010 18:51 WRITTEN BY ED BOUCHETTE
Is there a better defense in the NFL right now than the Steelers? This reminds me of those games in 1976 when Terry Bradshaw had a neck injury after the team started 1-4 with him. You'll never see a more dominant performance by a defense than that one that season as it threw shutout after shutout and just beat down everyone.
However, in these first two games and considering all the rules they've passed over the past 24 years to help offenses, it's hard to imagine a defense playing any better to open the season.
Seven turnovers! That's more than they've had in any game in 13 years. And they just slammed Chris Johnson. He had 8 yards in one game as a rookie. His 34 yards Sunday tied his second-lowest, plus he lost a fumble. He did not look as though he wanted to be in there at the end, which is what linebacker James Harrison said.
The Steelers have found a way to go 2-0 without Ben Roethlsiberger and the next two games are gravy because they can come out of this at 2-2 and be in good shape. However, they want to be in better same than that. And Mike Tomlin came out smoking yesterday, ripping those who thought his team could not win without Roethlisberger.
The Steelers were underdogs in their first two games and swept both of them, doing so without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the man who was supposed to replace him, Byron Leftwich.
“Regardless of our demise being reported, we expect to win,’’ Tomlin declared Sunday. “We’re pleased that we are 2-0 but we are not astounded by it. We’re capable. We’re a little bit annoyed to be quite honest about our premature reporting of our death.’’
Chris Hoke, starting for injured Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton, explained why his coach felt as he did.
“A lot of times, you guys don’t see what all goes on with our team,’’ Hoke said. “We know we’ve got a lot of great players out here. We’ve got a chip on our shoulder this year because of how things went down last year with our five-game losing streak. So, we have something to prove.
“So, sometimes when people writ ethat we’re not going to be very good or maybe they’ll go 2-2 or 1-3 when Ben’s out, that’s a lto fo the stuff that [ticks] us off.’’
Peter King, writing in Sports Illustrated before the season, picked the Steelers to win the Super Bowl.
###
With one quarterback hurt and two injured, Tomlin is not sure what he will do as the Steelers prepare to play in Tampa next Sunday.
“I don’t know who is going to play quarterback next week. I know it won’t be me. I’m not good enough.’’
Dennis Dixon left the game with a left knee injury in the second quarter. Byron Leftwich returned to practice the past week and was listed as probable, two weeks after his left knee was injured, a second-degree MCL sprain. The Steelers released Leftwich on Saturday to make room for a sixth defesive lineman, Scott McLendon, because of the injury to Hampton.
That left Charlie Batch as the only healthy quarterback Sunday. The Steelers expect to re-sign Leftwich today and either he, Batch or even Dixon could start in Tampa.
“I always want to throw my hat in the ring,’’ Batch said. “It is just a matter of if the opportunity presents itself, I will be ready. You never know when your number is going to be called upon.’’
###
The Steelers looked to be okay with other injuries, even though players kept leaving the field with one form of physical ailment or another.
Guard Trai Essex left with an ankle injury but returned to play. Hoke left with a “stinger” in his shoulder but also left to play (McLendon replaced him for about six snaps and recovered a fumble).
Two other starting linemen, guard Chris Kemoeatu and tackle Flozell Adams, had to leave the game because they were deyhdrafted. They returned and the Steelers shuffled linemen in and out. Jonathan Scott, making his first start for the Steelers at left tackle for injured Max Starks, moved to right tackle when Adams went out and Tony Hills came in to play left tackle. Doug Legursky filled in at guard.
The only lineman who played every snap was rookie center Maurkice Pouncey.
“We have a lot of guys who are versatile, that can play any position,’’ Pouncey said. “It shows the flexibility of the offensive line and what guys are willing to do for the team.’’
###
Hines Ward, who had a career-high 108 yards for an opener the previous week, managed just one catch for nine yards Sunday. Nevertheless, it was enough to keep his streak of 180 consecutive games with at least one catch. That’s the fifth longest in NFL history and just three behind Art Monk for No. 4.
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in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)
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