Heels, Sox & Steelers

6-5

2009-11-30T09:55:00.000-05:00

Pretty sure moral victories aren't factored into the the wild card race.

Also: oddly, I'm okay with Hines calling out Big Ben on national television. I don't even think his comments were about the concussion, just Ben's drama queen history.

Next post: 2010 draft talk!

Game Thread, Week 12: Baltimore Ravens

2009-11-29T19:45:00.000-05:00

Sit back, relax, and behold the magic that is Bruce Arians' offensive genius.

DENNIS DIXON, EVERYBODY!

2009-11-28T12:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, it's Dennis Dixon time. Probably should have accepted that after Ben wobbily (yep, made it up) made his way off the field last Sunday and before Chaz took his first snap. It seemed clear that Ben had a concussion and it's only a matter of time (in this case, four snaps) until Batch is injured.

So here we are, season on the line, and the Steelers will trot out the 185-pound, second-year third-stringer to face the Ravens. Not the 2008 Ravens, but still not a team you want facing your backup to the backup in an important game.

But you know what? Touchdown Tommy started in Baltimore in 2005. The results were predictably awful, but here's the silver lining: pretty sure it won't be that bad tomorrow night. (Feel better? No? Moving on...) I went searching for some Dennis Dixon college footage and after watching the YouTubes above here's what came to me: Vince Young.

Don't laugh. I know VY has been a punchline for a year and a half, but he's dangerous when given a short script and managed properly. The Ravens' defense is banged up (they have no cornerbacks, Ray-Ray and Ed Reed are both questionable, Suggs is doubtful), and I wouldn't mind seeing some variation of the VY-CJ option with DD and Mendenhall. The problem, of course, is that if Dixon gets hurt the Steelers are in deeper shit than they already find themselves. Wex writes that Mewelde has been taking backup snaps which renders Mike Wallace useless, I think. (Then again, MeMo has a TD pass on a Byron Leftwich fastball to the back of the end zone, so maybe he can throw the deep ball, too.)

So while this game could decide Pittsburgh's playoff fate, in a sense, the pressure's off. Ben's out, Dixon's in, and the expectations have been lowered. Now it'll be up to Dennis' athleticism and Arians' coaching ability.

See, nothing to worry about.

Happy Turkey Day, Peeps

2009-11-25T20:30:00.000-05:00

Because there's only so much Jeff Garcia you should be exposed to. Also, consider this your Thanksgiving Day thread if you're so inclined.

Who Ya Got?!

2009-11-23T19:55:00.000-05:00

Commence with the speculation. I'm going with Jeff Garcia. Or Jeff George.

Oh, and here's a little something I put together for FanHouse. (I can't stress "little" enough.)

Really?

2009-11-22T16:18:00.002-05:00

Hey, another game I can immediately delete from the DVR. Jesus H. What an abomination on just about every level.

Game Thread, Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs

2009-11-22T10:15:00.000-05:00

Neither Larry Johnson nor Troy Polamalu will be playing in this game today. I also can't believe it's already Week 11.

Bruce Arians Fired!

2009-11-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

That was solely for DJ's benefit. I can't muster the weekly BA outrage. In other news, it looks like Troy is out for 2-3 weeks.

Not Sure How That Coulda Been Worse

2009-11-15T16:10:00.005-05:00

Ben and the o-line looked like it was 2006. I immediately deleted the game from the DVR after it was over. No way in hell I'll rewatch this. You couldn't even pay me to do it.

Game Thread, Week 10: Cincinnati Bengals

2009-11-15T10:15:00.004-05:00

I'd like to think the Steelers will roll -- they dominated in Week 3 without Polamalu (... and lost) -- but the Bengals usually show up to play at Heinz Field. That said, I'll conservatively predict Pittsburgh to win by five touchdowns.

Please Don't Doubt Tyrone Carter

2009-11-10T17:30:00.000-05:00

Another thread.

Game Thread, Week 9: Denver Broncos

2009-11-09T19:15:00.000-05:00

It seems like the Steelers haven't played in years.

Greetings

2009-11-05T14:42:00.005-05:00

Hola, peeps. Sorry for disappearing -- had a family emergency and had to head to North Carolina on short notice last Sunday. I'm still in NC and probably won't be home for a few more days. Anyway, here's a new thread.

Hopefully, your irregular HSS programming should be back on schedule soon.

Tripping!

2009-10-28T11:15:00.002-05:00

I was never worried that the "phantom" tripping call that brought back a Vikings touchdown was, well, phantom, but FanHouse's Matt Snyder, who is also a high school official, writes that, according to the rules, the flag was warranted.

Oh, and I just included the video of William Gay getting steamrolled because it's still amazing, three days later.

Defense

2009-10-26T00:45:00.001-05:00

I'll be honest: on both huge defensive plays -- the LaMarr and Keyaron runbacks -- I was yelling "DON'T FUMBLE!" and "GO DOWN!" right up until the time they crossed the goal line. I blame Rashard Mendenhall. Also: since when did Santonio start carrying the ball like an insane person?

Okay, like most of you predicted: 5-2 heading into the bye. Two weeks to get people healthy and figure out how to replace Ryan Clark before heading to Denver.

Game Thread, Week 7: Minnesota Vikings

2009-10-25T09:00:00.001-05:00

The Gunslinger vs. Brett Favre.

Waterheads Will One Day Rule the Earth

2009-10-21T18:40:00.003-05:00

Hello, fellow HSS-ers! This is your weekly thread update!

So I was just reading through the comments from the previous thread (posted SUNDAY!) and somehow the discussion turned to the frequency of posts. Yeah, I got nothin'. When I started this thing back in 2004 (I really can't believe I've been sorta doing this for five-plus years; that's insane on any number of levels) I was fresh out of grad school, just started a "real" job (one that required me to leave the house), and had loads of time on my hands. Now, as a stay-at-home blogger/dad/puppy owner/(other excuses here) I have a lot less time. It's weird, frankly.

Oh, and I'm chronically lazy. Plus, in all honesty, the conversation isn't "what does Ryan think!?" it's "what do the folks who frequent this site think?" It's better that way. You know that, of course, but I thank you for pretending that I'm important.

I'll take it.

Waterhead

P.S. I'll repeat what I wrote last thread: FWP is done in Pittsburgh after this year. I'm not necessarily excited about it -- he was a fantastic story and his '05 season was a lot of fun to watch -- just the reality for a mediocre back in the NFL.

Okay, my fingers are tired. Expect another post in two weeks or so.

New Thread, Browns Still Suck

2009-10-18T18:30:00.000-05:00

Sloppy wins count, too.

Game Thread, Week 6: Cleveland Browns

2009-10-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

Troy's back (sorta), Mendenhall's starting, it's the first game of '09 in the post-Aaron Smith era ... and it's the Browns.

Ziggy, Sunny and Aaron

2009-10-14T10:30:00.000-05:00

Sunny's back (apparently, he goes by "Sunny," not "Sonny"). So all you people lamenting his fate last month, take solace! Sure, the circumstances surrounding his return aren't ideal, but the future is now, look on the bright side, and any other cliche that might work here...

Obviously, the Aaron Smith news is a huge deal, but here's how I'm rationalizing it: just like Madden, when you sit your starters to get a look at the young guys with upside. If they work out, great; you get a quality player already under contract for seven years at the league minimum AND you can trade the veteran for a first-day pick. There's your silver lining.

Troy

2009-10-12T09:45:00.000-05:00

I saw Ben's post-game comments and he said something about needing to play better. Maybe he was speaking for the defense. Whatever, if Troy's return again makes this defense formidable, he might be the best player to ever step on any field anywhere. If so, great. If not, then the Steelers will have to win by outscoring everybody.

Game Thread, Week 5: Detroit Lions

2009-10-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

I read yesterday that Larry Foote was in danger of getting benched in Detroit. I also read that he wanted to show the Steelers that he can still play. Whatever happens with that, here's what I don't want to see: a repeat of the 2002 Texans game.

I don't think that's asking too a lot.

Oh, and I'm predicting two TDs from Limas today. THE STEELERS HAVE THEIR OWN MEGATRON! (too much?)

Stafford-less Lions

2009-10-08T20:40:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Rob D for the highlight of my day -- Big Ben was miked up Sunday night and you can see it here.

A couple things:

1) Whenever I see guys on the sidelines able to carry on a conversation without dropping f-bombs, I notice. Because, naturally, I'm dropping f-bombs every fourth word or so and that's just in my everyday life. Probably not a thought most people had cross their minds, but then again, I'm f-ing weird.

2) I spent much of the Chargers game imploring Mendenhall to hold onto the football. I think Ben was actually harping on it more than I was, which is f-ing unbelievable.

45 Minutes of Kick-Ass Football

2009-10-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Ryan Mundy, the Limas Sweed of special teams, everybody! Yes, probably a bit harsh, but my head almost exploded when he got five-holed by that Sunday hop on the onside kick. I actually might have dropped more f-bombs in the seconds after that play than on Limas' TD-that-wasn't last week.

I know, the Steelers won, and don't misunderstand, I'm ecstatic about it, but more than any concerns about the defense or the dropped passes on offense are the fourth-quarter mental lapses. No way in hell I come up with Stefan Logan's hidden ball trick followed by getting Mundy-ed.

Whatever, Pittsburgh's 2-2 and Rashard Mendenhall went bonkers on a Chargers team missing Jamal Williams. I'm sure everybody will be talking about that performance -- and Fast Wilbur's absence -- this morning, but it's worth pointing out that FWP went for 146 yards in last season's divisional game.

Two more random things: I wrote about the game for FanHouse. And did anybody else think that Mike Wallace only got one foot in bounds on that first quarter play on the opening drive that led to the TD?

Image via PPG

Game Thread, Week 4: San Diego Chargers

2009-10-04T18:00:00.000-05:00

Obviously, MUST-WIN time. Making matters worse: the Chargers have the best quarterback in the history of time.