Into the Endzone

Steeler’s Troy Polamalu attempts a tackle as Foster sidesteps it for a 42 yard TD.

If you saw this game, you thought one of the following.You could think that the Texan have proved that they are contenders after overcoming multiple penalties (some that negated a few big plays), an Andre Johnson injury, and a furious comeback attempt by the Steelers. You could also think that the Steelers lost the game due to their inability to protect Big Ben and the defense playing like their age, and the Texans still need to prove they are contenders. Or you could be like me and thought both.

           This was an ugly game for both teams. While the Texans seemingly dominated both sides of the ball, the number of penalties stopped what could an easy win for the Texans. Instead, it was closer than the game actually was.

           Arian Foster ran for 141 yards, including a 42 run for a TD. Said was the longest run since the Steelers gave up a 40 yard run in 2006. That speaks volumes.

The Offensive Line for the Texans looked amazing. The Steelers D-line couldn’t stop anything, and without them opening holes for the Linebackers, the Linebackers were sitting ducks as well. If it wasn’t for THE Troy Polamalu (who set an NFL record for solo tackles made in a game by a safety  with 8), the Texans would have ran away with the game early. If it wasn’t for Andre getting hurt, the Texans would have killed. If the Texans didn’t have all the penalties, they would have dominated. Long story short: the Texans should have made this a blowout, but a few miscuses made it close.

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If you haven’t heard my  on the O-line yet, go read the last post. I’m not gonna rant about hopeless cases  (RG, colon, etc) again.

Let’s start with you Pouncey. I don’t know what to say. You were the first time the Steelers picked an Offensive Linemen in the early rounds in recent memory. And you delievered. You sent Hartings packing and saved us a lot of money. You went to the Pro Bowl and were amazing. You helped the worst offensive line become the third worst. And for that I thank you. But what happened?? Sophmore slump??? I don’t think so. I have been making excuses for you. I said it was the guards fault that caused a lot of pressure up front. And then you get blown aside by some random Texan NT. Seriously, GET YOUR DAMN HEAD IN THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gilbert. Gilbert Gilbert. Are you trying to get Big Ben killed?? I gave you the pass last week because you were going up against Freeny+Mathis. This week you got Williams.  You did okay against the Colts last week. This week? You made Mario look like the next LT. I made excuses for you. You and the rest of the team. And as a journalist, that was bad. But you know, I am done making excuses. The O-line is worse than I thought. The tackles are not that good. The interior is terrible. And the team is the perfect recipe to bad QB play.

I would rant about Roethlisberger, but if you have no O-line, you wouldn’t do well either. He actually did better, considering that he only threw one interception, on the Hail Mary play at the end of the game. He can be the best QB in the league right now if he has time.

Time for the Defense. I’m gonna warn all of you, this aint gonna be pretty. Here I go:

WOAH WOAH WOAH!!!!!! WHO THE HELL ARE THOSE GUYS PLAYING FOR THE BLACK AND GOLD???????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BECAUSE THEIR IS NO WAY  THAT THEY ARE THE SAME GUYS WHO PLAYED FOR THE TEAM LAST YEAR!!!!!! WHERE’S THE RUN DEFENSE???????!!!!!!!!!!! OH THAT’S RIGHT, IT’S GONE!!!!! ARIAN  FOSTER RAN FOR 141 YARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEVER EVEN HEARD OF HIM UNTIL LAST YEAR!!!! THE PASS DEFENSE IS BETTER THAN THE RUN DEFENSE, AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW HOW BAD THEY ARE AT DEFENDING THE DANG PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Let’s start with Lamar Woodley, the highest paid defender in Steeler history. With that in mind, you’d think  that he was great. He isn’t he’s good, but not great. And lately, he plays like the Ryan Leaf played QB. Pathetically, and an insult to the game. Where yah been Woods??? I haven’t seen you on the field lately. Scratch that I have. EVERY TIME YOU MISS A  TACKLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOUR SUCKING WOODLEY!!!!!!!!!!! YOUR MAKING ME REGRET SIGNING YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now let’s  move on to you Aaron Smith. Over the years, you have been the most underrated d-linemen in the history of the NFL. You were a force at RE, causing other teams to run toward the left. Yet the NFL is a what have you done lately league. What has Aaron Smith done lately??? I don’t know, he’s been injured. What was he like prior to every years season ending injury?? Dominant. Now??? Suckish. That’s all.

As for the rest of the defense, they’ve been doing bad too. I just had to point out a few key people. But not everyone has played bad. James Harrison, Troy Polamalu, and Ike Taylor have been playing great. James finally got back to his regular form, but then he gets injured. It’s ironic that it was a helmet to helmet hit that got him hurt.

P.S. No fine. And before you say anything, I’m not being biased.

Yah.

Troy is Troy, I don’t think I need to explain.

As for Ike, he is living up to his contract. I believe he is the only one. He has shutdown everybody he’s played. Lee Evans, the speedster had O catches. Reggie Wayne had only 18 yards. Andre was held to less than 50 (although that might have been because he was injured) and so on. He is arguably one of the best corner in today’s game. His only problem: He can’t catch. And that is an understatement. I never thought this day would come. But the Steelers D is …………….. old. There, I said it.

As for the Texans, I’m disappointed. Not because you beat my Steelers, no I expected that. But because you let it be close. You killed them. Yet you had to let a couple of penalties interfere. Were you going for a record of most penalties??? Because that’s what it looked like. Why on earth would you clip the kicker when he was about 10 yards away from the returner on the negated Blocked kick TD. Why??? The kicker was in no way going to stop the returner. Bonehead play.

How To Proceed:

For the Steelers, the best they can do is wait until next year. They don’t have the money to fix their o-line, due to the huge salaries many of the defensive guys are taking. Plus the salaries are all guranteed as of week one. The best thing the Steelers can do are run two-back/pro sets, which allows two more blockers. I perfer this to the Singleback set, because the Steelers don’t have a competent No.2 TE, and the same thing will happen. I like the the pro set better. Hotreads and delayed screens will help to. I see this team struggling, but if the defense gets back in form, and the offense finds away for Big Ben not to be hunted, this team will make the playoffs. I doubt that though.

For the Texans, just keep doing what your doing. find a guy that can fill in for  Johnson, and keep running the ball the way you did. The Texans have one of the most underrated line in football, so a good run game will be easy to establish. I see this team in the chase for a playoff berth.

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