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Beaver County Times
Steelers mid-season report
Posted: Thursday, November 3, 2011
By Mike Bires [email="mbires@timesonline.com"]mbires@timesonline.com[/email]
PITTSBURGH -- "Now it's onward and upward" Brett Keisel declared after the Steelers reached the halfway point of their season with the AFC's best record.
With a huge game against archrival Baltimore this coming Sunday night, Keisel and the rest of his teammates are in no mood to reflect on the past. They're 6-2 but they know there's a lot of football left to play. All they're focused on right now is continuing their winning streak and avenging their 35-7 opening-day loss to the Ravens.
But those of us in the media are allowed to look back. So here are some of my mid-season observations on the Steelers:
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
At first glance, it's almost unthinkable that an offensive lineman who's only played in four games could be MVP. But before Max Starks arrived, the Steelers were 2-2 and struggling offensively largely in part to injuries on the O-line.
So two days after a 17-10 loss in Houston where Ben Roethlisberger was sacked five times and suffered a sprained foot, Starks was re-signed. The big man who was cut just as training camp began was back at left tackle and it's been smooth sailing every since.
The Steelers are 4-0 with Starks back in the lineup. And no one has benefited more with Starks back than Roethlisberger. Without Starks, Roethlisberger threw five interceptions compared to only three touchdown passes. With Starks, Roethlisberger has thrown 11 TD passes and only two picks.
"I wish I could say there's something I did that was miraculous," Starks said. "But I just came in and did what I have always done. I'm just trying to be as helpful as possible to whoever needs it."
BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER
On the day the Steelers reported to training camp, Mike Wallace raised some eyebrows by saying his goal was to rack up 2,000 receiving yards this season. That was quite a statement considering the NFL record of 1,848 was set by Jerry Rice in 1995.
At this stage of the season, it's virtually impossible for Wallace to get close to Rice's record let alone reach 2,000. But with 800 yards, he's on pace to shatter the Steelers' single-season record of 1,398 set by Yancey Thigpen in 1997.
Wallace, who leads the Steelers with five touchdowns, is arguably the NFL's best deep threat. He has six catches of 40 yards or more this season including TD catches of 81 and 95 yards. The 95-yarder is longest pass play in franchise history.
BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER
LaMarr Woodley is red-hot. In the last four games, he's recorded 7.5 sacks and is tied for third in the NFL with nine. The left outside linebacker is showing why the Steelers signed him to that monster contract extension in August. But so is cornerback Ike Taylor, who also got a new deal during the preseason.
Taylor has yet to intercept a pass. But he's playing outstanding pass defense. Week in and week out, he takes on the opponent's best wide receivers and makes him non-factors. Steelers free safety Ryan Clark said Taylor "erases them."
In the last two weeks, Taylor has been at his best against two all-stars. He played Larry Fitzgerald tough in the win in Arizona, and this past Sunday, he was spectacular in shutting down New England's Wes Welker.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
I know that Bryant McFadden was bothered with a hamstring injury for much of training camp and again early in the season. But he hasn't even been listed on the official injury report for several weeks now. Not only has McFadden lost his starting job at cornerback to William Gay, but he can't even get on the field.
Keenan Lewis is now the No. 3 corner and in the past few games, it's been rookie Cortez Allen who's often come in when the Steelers use six defensive backs.
McFadden is being paid $2.5 million this season. That's a lot of money the Steelers are paying for a guy who right now is their fifth or sixth option at cornerback.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Certainly Gay and Lewis deserve consideration. They have played very well for the NFL's top-ranked pass defense. But second-year pro Antonio Brown has been especially impressive.
A wide receiver/kick return specialist, Brown is second on the team in receptions (34) and receiving yards (431).
Every practice, every game, Roethlisberger's trust in Brown increases. In the last four games - each Steeler wins - Roethlisberger has thrown to Brown more times than any other receiver.
And don't forget that Brown handles all kickoff and punt returns, and he's an above-the-line specialist. He's yet to break one for a touchdown this season, but he does have a 41-yard punt return and a 52-yard kickoff return.
Last year as a rookie, Brown caught 16 passes for 167 yards and no touchdowns. He's on pace this year for 68 catches, 862 yards and four TDs. He's developing into a productive and exciting weapon for the Steelers.
[url="http://www.timesonline.com/columnists/sports/mike_bires/steelers-mid-season-report/article_40290a42-0620-11e1-923e-0019bb30f31a.html"]http://www.timesonline.com/columnists/s ... 0f31a.html[/url]
Steelers mid-season report
Posted: Thursday, November 3, 2011
By Mike Bires [email="mbires@timesonline.com"]mbires@timesonline.com[/email]
PITTSBURGH -- "Now it's onward and upward" Brett Keisel declared after the Steelers reached the halfway point of their season with the AFC's best record.
With a huge game against archrival Baltimore this coming Sunday night, Keisel and the rest of his teammates are in no mood to reflect on the past. They're 6-2 but they know there's a lot of football left to play. All they're focused on right now is continuing their winning streak and avenging their 35-7 opening-day loss to the Ravens.
But those of us in the media are allowed to look back. So here are some of my mid-season observations on the Steelers:
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
At first glance, it's almost unthinkable that an offensive lineman who's only played in four games could be MVP. But before Max Starks arrived, the Steelers were 2-2 and struggling offensively largely in part to injuries on the O-line.
So two days after a 17-10 loss in Houston where Ben Roethlisberger was sacked five times and suffered a sprained foot, Starks was re-signed. The big man who was cut just as training camp began was back at left tackle and it's been smooth sailing every since.
The Steelers are 4-0 with Starks back in the lineup. And no one has benefited more with Starks back than Roethlisberger. Without Starks, Roethlisberger threw five interceptions compared to only three touchdown passes. With Starks, Roethlisberger has thrown 11 TD passes and only two picks.
"I wish I could say there's something I did that was miraculous," Starks said. "But I just came in and did what I have always done. I'm just trying to be as helpful as possible to whoever needs it."
BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER
On the day the Steelers reported to training camp, Mike Wallace raised some eyebrows by saying his goal was to rack up 2,000 receiving yards this season. That was quite a statement considering the NFL record of 1,848 was set by Jerry Rice in 1995.
At this stage of the season, it's virtually impossible for Wallace to get close to Rice's record let alone reach 2,000. But with 800 yards, he's on pace to shatter the Steelers' single-season record of 1,398 set by Yancey Thigpen in 1997.
Wallace, who leads the Steelers with five touchdowns, is arguably the NFL's best deep threat. He has six catches of 40 yards or more this season including TD catches of 81 and 95 yards. The 95-yarder is longest pass play in franchise history.
BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER
LaMarr Woodley is red-hot. In the last four games, he's recorded 7.5 sacks and is tied for third in the NFL with nine. The left outside linebacker is showing why the Steelers signed him to that monster contract extension in August. But so is cornerback Ike Taylor, who also got a new deal during the preseason.
Taylor has yet to intercept a pass. But he's playing outstanding pass defense. Week in and week out, he takes on the opponent's best wide receivers and makes him non-factors. Steelers free safety Ryan Clark said Taylor "erases them."
In the last two weeks, Taylor has been at his best against two all-stars. He played Larry Fitzgerald tough in the win in Arizona, and this past Sunday, he was spectacular in shutting down New England's Wes Welker.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
I know that Bryant McFadden was bothered with a hamstring injury for much of training camp and again early in the season. But he hasn't even been listed on the official injury report for several weeks now. Not only has McFadden lost his starting job at cornerback to William Gay, but he can't even get on the field.
Keenan Lewis is now the No. 3 corner and in the past few games, it's been rookie Cortez Allen who's often come in when the Steelers use six defensive backs.
McFadden is being paid $2.5 million this season. That's a lot of money the Steelers are paying for a guy who right now is their fifth or sixth option at cornerback.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Certainly Gay and Lewis deserve consideration. They have played very well for the NFL's top-ranked pass defense. But second-year pro Antonio Brown has been especially impressive.
A wide receiver/kick return specialist, Brown is second on the team in receptions (34) and receiving yards (431).
Every practice, every game, Roethlisberger's trust in Brown increases. In the last four games - each Steeler wins - Roethlisberger has thrown to Brown more times than any other receiver.
And don't forget that Brown handles all kickoff and punt returns, and he's an above-the-line specialist. He's yet to break one for a touchdown this season, but he does have a 41-yard punt return and a 52-yard kickoff return.
Last year as a rookie, Brown caught 16 passes for 167 yards and no touchdowns. He's on pace this year for 68 catches, 862 yards and four TDs. He's developing into a productive and exciting weapon for the Steelers.
[url="http://www.timesonline.com/columnists/sports/mike_bires/steelers-mid-season-report/article_40290a42-0620-11e1-923e-0019bb30f31a.html"]http://www.timesonline.com/columnists/s ... 0f31a.html[/url]
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