NFL FanHouse

Hines Ward's the NFL's Dirtiest Player?

JJ Cooper — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:52:00 EST

It's accurate to say that there aren't a whole lot of players around the league who like Hines Ward. When he's not going over the middle to catch passes, he's always looking to lay a hit on an unsuspecting defender. Heck, the NFL even passed a new rule after Ward broke linebacker Keith Rivers' jaw last year.

So it's no surprise to learn that Ward has been voted as the NFL's dirtiest player in a survey by Sports Illustrated, topping former teammate Joey Porter. With Rodney Harrison now retired, Ward was the obvious choice, which in some way is a badge of honor for the Steelers wideout. After all, how many receivers are tough enough and physical enough to be considered dirty?

It's worth noting that most of what Ward does to annoy defensive backs is completely legal. If he's downfield as a blocker, he's always looking to lay a crushing block on someone -- whether they see him coming or not. But players don't like it when they're running along minding their own business and find themselves looking out of their ear hole from the ground a second later.

"It's hard to sit there and tell everybody it's a violent sport but tone it down a little. When I go across the middle, those guys aren't going to tackle me softly and lay me down to the ground. That's not football. I find it ironic that now you see a receiver delivering blows, and it's an issue. But I haven't changed. I've been doing it this way for 11 years," Ward said.

He likes to block defensive ends with crackback blocks. He's happy to lower a shoulder after a catch as well. And he always does it with the same smile that's guaranteed to infuriate the guys tackling him. He's the kind of guy you love if he's on your team and hate if he's not.

But what's even more impressive is that Ward is a target for every linebacker and defensive back in the league who would like to get even for what Ward's done to them. But despite that, he's only missed seven games in his 12 year career.

Porter and Albert Haynesworth tied for second, Bengals safety Roy Williams, Titans center Kevin Mawae, Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan, Rams guard Richie Incognito, Falcons guard Harvey Dahl, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Vikings defensive end Jared Allen filled out the Top 10.

Hines Ward's the NFL's Dirtiest Player? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hines Ward: Ryan Clark Should Sit Out This Week

JJ Cooper — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:55:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North, NFL Injuries

No one will ever accuse Hines Ward of being soft on the football field.

He's caught passes over the middle with busted ribs; he's been dragged off the field by the training staff only to return and put his body on the line again. He regularly blocks defensive ends that outweigh him by 70 pounds and he's somehow stayed healthy despite being every defensive back's top target. So when Hines Ward says that if he was Ryan Clark, he wouldn't play this weekend, it means something.

"If it were me, no I wouldn't go," Ward said. "You know what? Football's second when it comes to someone's life. Life is more important than football to me."

The last time Pittsburgh played in Denver, Clark suffered some significant health problems because of his sickle cell condition. He eventually had to have his spleen removed, lost 30 pounds and missed the rest of the 2007 season. Doctors have cleared Clark to play this weekend, but understandably he's still trying to decide what to do when Pittsburgh plays Denver this week.

The Steelers announced on Monday that they won't be announcing anytime soon whether Clark will play--partly because it makes no sense to give the Broncos extra time to prepare, but Mike Tomlin did say that he will play a part in the decision as well. Putting it all together, it seems like there's a decent chance that Pittsburgh will be without its starting free safety next Monday night.

Hines Ward: Ryan Clark Should Sit Out This Week originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eric Mangini's Job Somehow Safe

Matt Snyder — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:55:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

After yet another embarrassing beatdown for his Browns -- this time a 30-6 loss at the hands of the Chicago Bears -- Eric Mangini received a vote of confidence, at least for the remainder of this season. Randy Lerner, owner of the Browns, indicated he isn't willing to dismiss Mangini right now, but admitted to the Associated Press that he is "sick" about the state of his franchise.

Even if Mangini's safe, Lerner did express interest in making one change -- he wants to bring in a football-tested authority figure to help run the franchise. The way he's phrasing everything, it sounds like he wants to hire someone in the Bill Parcells-in-Miami mold.

"There's absolutely no question about that," he said. "The highest priority that I have is a strong, credible, serious leader within the building to guide decisions in a far more conspicuous, open transparent way. I can maybe defend decisions by saying I've sought advice and I've brought people in, and we've gone to see people -- and I think my highest priority is to have a stable figure that represents the voice that explains the decisions."

Update: Browns Fire GM George Kokinis

Lerner also admitted the Browns' quarterback situation isn't even remotely close to working.

No matter how they proceed, it's obvious some serious changes need to happen in Cleveland. The Browns are 1-7 and the franchise is currently in as bad of shape as any other team in football. The game in Chicago was just another in a string of embarrassments for the Browns -- as they turned the ball over five times and even missed their only extra point attempt. This was a 30-6 beatdown from a team that lost 45-10 to the Bengals last week.

They don't seem prepared and have no real general direction. The personnel is pretty awful, too.

The Browns have a bye next week, but will face the Ravens at home in Week 10. They likely have three more realistically winnable games left on the schedule. They travel to Detroit in Week 11, go to Kansas City in Week 15, and host the Raiders in Week 16.

Eric Mangini's Job Somehow Safe originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steelers Fans Need to Be Patient with Ziggy Hood

JJ Cooper — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:07:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North

When the Steelers lost defensive end Aaron Smith for the season, it wasn't too much of a shock that the Steelers turned to veteran Travis Kirschke instead of first-round pick Ziggy Hood.

But now that Kirschke is also likely to be sidelined for next Sunday's Broncos game, it looks like the Steelers would turn to Nick Eason next week as the starter instead of Hood. Essentially the Steelers are saying that Eason, who battled Sunny Harris for a spot on the roster during training camp, is a better bet as a starter than the Steelers first-round pick this year.

That would normally be a sign that the first-round pick is on the path to being a big-time bust--first-round picks should be contributors, not the No. 5 defensive end on a team that normally carries five defensive ends.

But with Dick LeBeau's defense, it's just part of the tradition. Whether it's the complexity of the blitz schemes or the extreme emphasis on every player carrying out their assignment, rookies very rarely find they can contribute on the Steelers defense.

The best example of this steep learning curve is safety Troy Polamalu. As a rookie, Polamalu looked like a bust. He didn't play all that much, and when he did, he seemed to always be the guy being picked on. A year later, he was a key reason the Steelers went 15-1 during the regular season.

It was a similar story with 2007 first-round pick Lawrence Timmons and second-round pick LaMarr Woodley. Both spent most of their rookie seasons on the bench, then both turned into solid contributors in their second year. Chris Hope is now a Pro Bowler with the Titans, but it took him a couple of years to earn a starting job in Pittsburgh. In fact, you'd have to go back to 2001 first-round pick Casey Hampton to find the last time a Steelers defensive rookie has made a significant impact as a starter.

So Steelers fans shouldn't worry too much about Hood's inability to get into the starting lineup. Hood may not be ready to make a big impact this year, but we won't really know what the Steelers got in him until next training camp.

Steelers Fans Need to Be Patient with Ziggy Hood originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Between the Lines: Steelers Offensive Line Has Taken Big Steps

JJ Cooper — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North, NFL Analysis

As we have done since the FanHouse began, I'll be taking a look every week at some aspect of line play. You can read more features in the series here. Check back every Thursday for a new Between The Lines.

For three years I rewatched every Steelers game with an eye on the offensive line. And a good bit of the time, it wasn't pretty. Whether it was a debacle against the Raiders in 2006 or the mass of confusion against the Eagles in 2008, there have been plenty of lowlights.

After watching the Steelers win the Super Bowl last year despite a struggling offensive line, I kind of figured that if everything went well, Pittsburgh could figure out a way to do it again. They had enough defense and enough skill position players on offense to make up for the offensive line's problems.
That appeared to be what the Steelers thought as well--they brought back the starting five from the Super Bowl team, although Darnell Stapleton (sitting on injured reserve) has been replaced at right guard by Trai Essex. It was a somewhat scary formula--stick with what you got and hope for the best.

But after rewatching the Steelers-Vikings game with a focus on the line play, it's clear that I was wrong. The defense may be good enough and the skill positions (thanks to Mike Wallace) are even better than expected. But if the Steelers managed to defend their Super Bowl title this year, the biggest reason will be because the offensive line is significantly improved.

I haven't watched the Steelers offensive line in detail every week this year like I have in past years, but with them facing off against the Vikings--the NFL's leader in sacks and the team with arguably the best front four in football, it seems like a good time to check back in on the Steelers O-line.

What I found was pretty impressive. In watching the Steelers against the Vikings, the offensive line actually got the better of the Vikings for much of the game. Defensive end Jared Allen, one of the top pass rushers in the game, finished the game with two tackles and no sacks. Kevin Williams, one of the top defensive tackles in the game, had only one tackle. Not only did he end up with one tackle, but right tackle Willie Colon put him on the ground several times on running plays.

Colon's play stood out more than anyone. Colon showed dominating run blocking while also showing dramatic improvement in pass blocking from previous years. The Steelers ran nine called running plays to the right for 78 yards. They ran nine other called runnng plays up the middle or to the left for a grand total of 25 yards. Colon was a big reason for that. When he teamed up with Essex to block Kevin Williams, he put Willams on the ground on three different occasions. On other running plays, he did an outstanding job of sealing the corner.

Over at the other tackle spot, Max Starks had the toughest assignment of anyone. He was asked to block Allen, who came into the game second in the NFL in sacks, one-on-one throughout the game. Pittsburgh didn't give Starks an inordinate amount of help, but his combination of long arms and good footwork allowed him to neutralize one of the game's best pass rusher. I counted only four plays in the game where Allen clearly beat Starks--one pass deflection where Allen got his hands up at the line, a run play where he missed his block but it didn't play a part in the play and two pass plays where Allen got free eventually, but not in time to really bother Roethlisberger. When Allen tried to bull rush, Starks swallowed him up and showed that he could throw out an anchor that kept Allen from driving him back.

And when Allen tried to beat Starks with a speed rush, Starks was able to get his hands on Allen quickly enough to win the race to the corner.

Essex wasn't as dominating as Colon or Starks, but he was quite impressive. He doesn't have Colon or Chris Kemoeatu's strength that allows them to plow people at times. But what he did show was an impressive awareness of angles and of his responsibilities. Essex's best play may have been as a pass blocker early in the first quarter. He got in his initial punch on Brian Robison, only to watch Robison loop away on a stunt. Essex quickly handed Robison off, picked up defensive end Ray Edwards looping around and then handed him off to block Jared Allen, who had come all the way around from the other defensive end spot.

It may not sound like much, but those handoffs from one offensive lineman to another are the kind of switch-offs that cause sacks every week, usually because a lineman drops his head and fixates on the man he is currently blocking. Essex instead keeps his head up and looking around, which makes it much easier to stay alert to line stunts and loops.

Last year, the Steelers were an easy mark for a team that blitzed and stunted to create confusion. This year, they seem to handle it like veterans who have played together and who know what everyone else along the line is doing.

Pittsburgh line still isn't one who will blow teams off the ball. But there pass blocking has improve to the point where it gives Roethlisberger the time to carve up defenses. Because of Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh will continue to have high sack totals--eight of his sacks this year have come on plays where he's held the ball for 3.5 seconds or more--but the improved pass blocking also explains why Roethlisberger is second in the league in passing yardage.

Between the Lines: Steelers Offensive Line Has Taken Big Steps originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mile High Poses Serious Risk for Steelers' Ryan Clark

JJ Cooper — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:47:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North

The last time Ryan Clark played football in Denver, it nearly killed him.

Clark's sickle-cell disease meant that his blood attacked his gall bladder and spleen forcing Clark to have both removed and sidelining him for the remainder of the 2007 season. He lost more than 30 pounds and needed months to recover.

So now he has to decide if he's willing to risk playing in the thin air of Denver two weeks from now. It's a big game for the Steelers, but Clark, understandably, is only going to play if doctors can give him a clean bill of health. Right now, it's hard to say which way Clark is going to decide. He's run as many tests as can be run. Doctors have poked and prodded him. But it appears that no one can tell him for sure that Clark won't have another bad reaction to the altitude.

"I can promise you I will be on the plane, either way, and we'll just figure it out from there," Clark said.

At this point, it's hard to believe that any new information will come out between now and Nov. 8 to give Clark a more certain explanation. And with that being the case, as big as the Steelers-Broncos game is for Pittsburgh, it seems to be better safe than sorry. For one, Clark shouldn't risk his life for one football game. And from a football standpoint, missing Clark for one game is bad, but losing Clark for the rest of the season like in 2007 would be a crushing blow for Pittsburgh.

The bad news for the Steelers is that if Clark sits out, they could be without three starters. Linebacker Lawrence Timmons sprained his ankle against the Vikings while Travis Kirschke suffered a calf injury. If Kirschke misses the game, the Steelers will be down to their third-string defensive end since Aaron Smith is already out with a rotator cuff injury.

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Pittsburgh Steelers Photos

Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin, left, can't hang on to a pass after a hit from Pittsburgh Steelers' Ryan Clark, center, as Steelers' Deshea Townsend (26) looks on in the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Carlos Gonzalez) ** ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; MINNEAPOLIS AREA TV OUT **

The Star Tribune

Pittsburgh Steelers Photos

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre (4) watches as Pittsburgh Steelers' Keyaron Fox (57) returns an interception 82-yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Star Tribune, Jerry Holt) ** ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; MINNEAPOLIS AREA TV OUT **

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pittsburgh Steelers' Keyaron Fox (57) returns an interception 82-yards for a touchdown as Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre (4) watches in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. The Steelers won 27-17. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre (4) walks off the field after fumbling the ball and having it returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Carlos Gonzalez) ** ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; MINNEAPOLIS AREA TV OUT **

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre (4) could on watch as Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Keyaron Fox returned an 82-yard inception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Steelers defeated the Vikings, 27-17, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sunday, October 25, 2009. (Jerry Holt/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

MCT

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (43) tackes Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) during fourth-quarter action. The Steelers defeated the Vikings, 27-17, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sunday, October 25, 2009. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

MCT

The Minnesota Vikings' Percy Harvin (12) returns a kickoff for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers defeated the Vikings, 27-17, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sunday, October 25, 2009. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

MCT

Minnesota Vikings receiver Sidney Rice (18) cannot catch a pass that deflected off the goal post during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers defeated the Vikings, 27-17, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sunday, October 25, 2009. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

MCT

Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin can't pull down a catch against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay during the fourth quarter. The Steelers defeated the Vikings, 27-17, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sunday, October 25, 2009. (Jerry Holt/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

MCT

Mile High Poses Serious Risk for Steelers' Ryan Clark originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steelers' Bargain Hunting Pays Off Again

JJ Cooper — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North, NFL Free Agency

There's a pretty strong belief that the Steelers avoid the free agent market. Because of their belief in the draft and the Rooney's lack of a Daniel Snyder-size bankroll, they ignore free agents and focus instead on developing their own stars.

It's only halfway true. It's fair to say that Pittsburgh won't be in the market for the top free agents on the market next year, just like they haven't gone shopping for a big-money free agent in any of the past 17 years. But Pittsburgh does go shopping in the bargain bin. And more often than not, they find deals -- like linebacker Keyaron Fox, the star of Sunday's win against the Vikings.

When Lawrence Timmons was sidelined by a high ankle sprain before the season opener, Fox stepped in and recorded 10 tackles against the Titans. He had another solid effort (five tackles) against the Bears next week before handing the starting job back to Timmons.

But when Timmons went down with another ankle injury on Sunday, Fox stepped in to provide the game's biggest play -- intercepting Brett Favre and returning it 82 yards for a touchdown -- the first interception of his career. Timmons has said he'll be back in two weeks when Pittsburgh returns from its bye week, but if he's not ready, the coaching staff and the Steelers fans have to feel quite comfortable about seeing Fox stepping in at inside linebacker.

Fox is just another example of the Steelers kind of free agent -- the inexpensive, underappreciated role player who is better than his price tag. When Fox hit free agency after the 2007 season, he didn't get a whole lot of interest. He was an oft-injured backup linebacker for the Chiefs who had made only four starts in four years, so Pittsburgh was able to sign him to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. They liked his special teams play enough during their run to the Super Bowl to sign him to a two-year, $1.8 million contract extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2010.

Fox isn't the only bargain free agent who's paid off in recent years. Mewelde Moore didn't have a whole lot of offers on the free agent market, but the third-down back has proven to be a steal with his three-year, $5 million deal. Ryan Clark was not listed as one of the top safeties when he hit the free agent market, but the free safety has proven to be one of the bargains of the decade at four years, $7 million.

Steelers' Bargain Hunting Pays Off Again originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brutal Effort by Bears in 45-10 Thrashing

Matt Snyder — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Bengals, AFC North, NFC North

Bengals 45, Bears 10. It was 45-3 before the Bears finally got into the end zone, but the game had long been over at that point. It was one of those games that makes you wonder -- were the Bengals that good or the Bears that bad? As is usually the case when you ask that question, it was a combination of both. You have to give the Bengals credit, especially Carson Palmer for his precision passing. Well, really, the entire team deserves loads of credit.

Still, this game was more about how pathetic the Bears played. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that was a simply despicable attempt at playing football on nearly every front. More games like that, and the playoffs won't even be a possibility come late November.

More: Check Box Score | Saints Rally, Stay Unbeaten | 'Boys Pound Falcons

The offensive line is awful, just downright atrocious. Jay Cutler has about two seconds to throw before being hit, and this was against a team who just lost its best pass rusher. Matt Forte has maybe six inches of running room on any given play. And make no mistake about it, Cutler made some awful passes, while Forte is running like he's planning on living off his rookie reputation for the rest of his career. Receivers are playing volleyball (Cutler's second pick was batted upward by his intended receiver before being intercepted) and losing fumbles (Devin Hester, though he otherwise had a nice stat-line).

The defense was an absolute sieve. Palmer had more touchdown passes (five) than incompletions (four), which sounds like a video game stat. Chad Ochocinco schooled Charles Tillman, just like he said he would. Cedric Benson proved his point, I guess (don't even get me started on him, he's still a joke of a man -- even if he's a good running back now). The defense as a whole misses tackles with alarming frequency, mostly due to trying to rip out the football instead of simply making the tackle (which is Lovie-ball -- he wants takeaways, after all). There was no pass rush.

The stats look pretty bad as well, not surprisingly. The Bears were outgained by 169 yards, earned only half as many first downs as Cincy did and turned it over four times. They allowed the Bengals to convert on eight of 12 third downs. And they can't run, rushing for just 35 yards.

Did the team not know they had a game Sunday? Were they unprepared? Were they satisfied with only losing to the Falcons by seven the previous week?

Whatever the reason, that wasn't a playoff-caliber team Sunday. Lovie Smith was outcoached, the offense sucked and the defense sucked. That wasn't even the work of a six-win team. Beating the Browns at home next week won't mean things are all of a sudden better, either. The Bears have some serious work to do in order to live up to expectations.

Brutal Effort by Bears in 45-10 Thrashing originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cedric Benson Says Bears Tried to 'Blackball' Him From NFL

Matt Snyder — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:03:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Bengals, AFC North, NFC North

Cedric Benson's time in Chicago was a tumultuous one. He was drafted by the Bears in the first round -- the fourth overall pick -- of the 2005 draft and proceeded to hold out for 36 days. After arriving, he constantly complained about being mistreated by teammates. That may have been true, as the incumbent starting running back, Thomas Jones, was well-liked by teammates. Maybe it was because Jones worked hard, cared about the team and didn't have a sense of entitlement -- all opposite traits displayed by Benson in Chicago.

Now, Benson is becoming the player many thought he could coming out of college, due to -- in my opinion -- having received a wake-up call when the Bears cut him. Although, if you hear it from him, that isn't the case at all. In fact, he claims the Bears attempted to blackball him from the NFL.

Blackball? Wow, so the Bears went to the trouble of calling every other team and telling them specifically not to sign Cedric Benson?

''No doubt,'' Benson said. ''I heard all the rumors that were said coming out of Chicago. Even the Bengals told me that they would call and inquire about me and get nothing but negative things.''

Such as?

''That I didn't work hard, that I was, I guess, a prima donna, just wasn't focused,'' he said. ''Just anything negative that they could say was said. I'm sure that contributed largely to me not getting picked up right away.''

Um, Cedric ... that's not attempting to blackball a player. That's a former employer giving an honest assessment of what you were (and, for the record, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has said Bears coach Lovie Smith "vouched for" Benson when the two discussed the Bengals possibly bringing him in).

Look, the Bears ran Jones out of town for Benson -- and, by the way, Jones is still better here in 2009. Benson rewarded them with poor work ethic, a sense of entitlement and obvious apathy. He mocked disgruntled fans in the front row behind the Bears bench during the incredibly disappointing 2007 campaign, at times shrugging his shoulders and laughing when people accused him of not caring about the team. He got arrested twice within a matter of weeks in the 2008 offseason. At that point, there wasn't a person in the world who thought the Bears should have kept Benson around. They turned the page.

Benson needs to do the same.

He is third in the NFL in rushing. He's playing for a really solid team. He's running hard, his teammates like him and he appears to care. Good for him. He's changed -- just not near as much as he needs to. You see, when I was in my early 20s, I didn't work hard at my job. If my current employers called my employers from those years to ask about me, I'm sure they'd hear I wasn't committed to the job, because I wasn't. In my current gig, I am. There are people all over the world with a similar circumstance. People can change. It's apparent Benson has morphed into a hard-working No. 1 NFL running back. It's a shame he can't just be accountable for his past indiscretions instead of levying ridiculous accusations (seriously, does he even know what "blackball" means?) against the team who did everything they could to give him a chance. You can't come full circle as a changed human being without a little accountability.

Instead, all you hear from Benson is excuse-city. He's better for the Bengals because they cleared a path for him instead of having him come in and compete, he has recently said. What a joke. If you want to compete for a job, how about not holding out for more than a month? How about just going out on the field and proving you are better than the other back? You have to earn respect, it's not a God-given right. It's just sad he still can't look back and realize his myriad mistakes during his stint in Chicago.

And has he ever done anything wrong in his life, in his own eyes? If he's sincerely apologized for any past indiscretions or admitted he could have done something even a tad bit better, I've never seen it. It's always what someone else is doing to him or who is trying to keep him down. How about being truthful with himself and trying to better himself as a person?

Of course, it still doesn't appear he's being fully truthful with himself. He claims this weekend's game against the Bears isn't about revenge or showing them what mistake they made to let him go. It's just another game. I'm not going to call him a liar, because he may be telling the truth. But, if he really doesn't care about this game more than any other, what's with all the whining and negativity toward the Bears? If it's just another game, go play it without the accusation-hurling. People don't complain about things if they don't care. Benson's grown as a player and now it's time he grew as a man.

The Bears turned the page, now it's time for Cedric to do the same.

Cedric Benson Says Bears Tried to 'Blackball' Him From NFL originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bengals Place Defensive Star Antwan Odom on Injured Reserve

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, AFC North, NFL Injuries

Though a 28-17 loss to the Houston Texans wasn't an ideal way to come off an eye-opening 4-1 start, the Cincinnati Bengals knew it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Unfortunately, the repercussions of Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium will be felt for the rest of the season. The club Monday announced that Antwan Odom, who entered the weekend tied for the NFL lead in quarterback sacks, will miss the rest of the season.

The move only makes official what was reported Sunday, but that is indeed a sobering reality. Odom tore through the Packers for five sacks in a Week 2 "upset" at Lambeau Field, and the Bengals pronounced themselves as a legitimate team by beating the Steelers at home in Week 3 before a win at Baltimore last Sunday. Odom had seven sacks through the first two games, the most by any NFL player in the season's first two weeks since sacks became an official NFL statistic (1982).

A torn right Achilles' tendon ends his season, and it also sends shockwaves through the Bengals defensive front. Ends Robert Geathers and Michael Johnson will have to try to pick up some of the slack. The Bengals have flourished this season in part because of Odom's play, and while he's relied on Geathers and tackles Domata Peko and Tank Johnson to take up blockers and give him space.

Young linebackers Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers might see different schemes as offenses adjust to not having Odom around. That means veteran defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer might have to get more aggressive to create havoc in opposing backfields.

In the end, it's quite a challenge for the Bengals. However, they've handled adversity very well so far, both on and off the field. There's no reason to think they won't be okay, even though Odom's loss is a major one for them.

Bengals Place Defensive Star Antwan Odom on Injured Reserve originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeff Reed in Trouble Again, but Towel Dispensers Are Safe

JJ Cooper — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:14:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North, NFL Police Blotter

Back in the 1970s, the Steelers had plenty of characters and flakes. Running back Frenchy Fuqua had shoes with live goldfish in the heels. Defensive tackle Ernie Holmes was always a couple of bricks shy of a full load -- he suffered a breakdown on a trip to Ohio that ended with him shooting at a police helicopter. In both cases, the Steelers overlooked the craziness because they were key members of the team.

Now in the 2000s, the craziest Steeler is the kicker.

Jeff Reed is in trouble for the second time in less than a year. Just hours after the Steelers beat the Browns at Heinz Field, he was cited for public intoxication outside a bar.

According to the Tribune-Review, police were responding to an unrelated incident at McFadden's, a Pittsburgh-area bar, when they spotted Steelers tight end Matt Spaeth urinating outside a vehicle. When the police prepared to ticket Spaeth, Reed stepped out of an SUV and confronted them.

"The officers told him several times to get back in the vehicle, but he did not listen," Davidson said. "Mr. Reed then squared up with an officer by bringing his fists up."

Officers tackled Reed and cuffed him at the scene, Davidson said.

"He smelled of a strong odor of alcohol and appeared to be intoxicated," Davidson said.

Back in February, Reed got in trouble when he beat up a towel dispenser in a New Alexandria, Pa. convenience store bathroom. He eventually pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.

There's little doubt that Reed likes his booze. You can find photos of the kicker bar-hopping all around the Internet. He's also been an extremely reliable kicker for the Steelers over the past eight seasons. But with his contract up at the end of the year (and the team's inability to reach a contract extension with him in preseason negotiations), it's fair to wonder if Reed's troubles with the law will ensure he's kicking elsewhere next season.

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Pittsburgh Steelers Photos

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 18: Heath Miller #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers gets tackled after catching a pass in front of D'Qwell Jackson #52 of the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on October 18, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 27-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Heath Miller;D'Qwell Jackson

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Pittsburgh Steelers Photos

Cleveland Browns' Joshua Cribbs leaps defenders as he rushes for 18 yards after taking a direct snap from center in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/The Repository, Scott Heckel) ** MANDATORY CREDIT **

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin looks on during the fourth quarter of a 27-14 win over the Cleveland Browns in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers Lawrence Timmons, left,and James Farrior (51) sack Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson (3), causing a fumble, during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Pittsburgh won 27-14. (AP Photo/Don Wright)

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller (83) is upended by Cleveland Browns' David Bowens (96) after catching an eight-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the second quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. The Steelers won 27-14. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Cleveland Browns' Alex Hall (51) beats Pittsburgh Steelers center Doug Legursky, top, to a fumble by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. The Steelers won 27-14. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini reacts during the fourth quarter of a 27-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward, left, hauls in a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as teammate Santonio Holmes (10) blocks Cleveland Browns' Eric Wright, right, in the second quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. The Steelers won 27-14. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis sits on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of a 27-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Cleveland Browns' receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (11) sits on the bench during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. The Steelers won 27-14. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall (34) runs around right end past Cleveland Browns' Brandon McDonald (22) for 11-yards in the third quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. The Steelers won 27-14. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Jeff Reed in Trouble Again, but Towel Dispensers Are Safe originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Browns' Futility Is Simply Embarrassing

JJ Cooper — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:56:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, Steelers, AFC North

The Browns may have only lost by 13 points on Sunday, but the final score doesn't explain the complete lack of respect the Steelers showed their one-time rivals.

Fourth and one within easy field goal range during the first half? Go for it. A close call on a seemingly meaningless 11-yard catch by the Browns? Challenge it. Against a team with a real offense, Mike Tomlin would have kept the challenge flag in his pocket -- as it might be needed on a play that actually matters. Against a Browns team that had 14 yards and no first downs through the air in the first half, Tomlin was worried about keeping Cleveland away from any moral victories -- like a first down.

It's been six years and 14 games since Cleveland beat Pittsburgh. Tim Couch was the Browns quarterback for the last win -- Ben Roethlisberger was still quarterbacking at Miami (Ohio) University. Maybe tight end Steve Heiden can gather the team together and tell them the story of the win. He's the only position player from that game who's still on the Browns roster (kicker Phil Dawson and long snapper Ryan Pontbriand were also on the roster for the last win). There's good reason to cherish that win -- it's Cleveland's only win against Pittsburgh since 2000.

Since 2003, the Steelers have won two Super Bowls and have made four playoff appearances. The Browns have had four coaches.

It's sad to see what's happened to what was once a great rivalry. Going back to the days of Jim Brown, Cleveland was clearly the alpha dog of this rivalry (they won 31 of the teams' first 40 meetings). The Steelers' success in the 1970s managed to bring the rivalry some needed balance, but Bernie Kosar, Ernest Byner and the rest of the late 1980s Browns gave Cleveland the edge again.

Now, it's just a guaranteed win on the Steelers' schedule. And with the way the Browns are going right now, it is hard to see that changing anytime soon

Browns' Futility Is Simply Embarrassing originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Childress, Vikings Survive Ravens Scare

Matt Snyder — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:05:00 EST

Filed under: Ravens, Vikings, AFC North, NFC North

Things seemed pretty elementary for the Minnesota Vikings through much of their game Sunday afternoon. They held a 14-0 lead over the Baltimore Ravens after a quarter, a 14-3 halftime lead, and then a 27-10 margin early in the fourth quarter -- margins that likely inspired tons of confidence for the Vikes. Who would have thought they would need to be bailed out by a missed field goal as time expired in order to escape with a victory?

Yet that's exactly what happened, because the Ravens, behind explosive plays from Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, used just 11 offensive plays in 6:24 to score three touchdowns and take a 31-30 fourth-quarter lead. The Vikings did drive down and kick a field goal with 2:00 left in the game, which made the score -- the eventual final -- 33-31.

More: Check Box Score | Saints Clobber Giants, Stay Undefeated

Flacco wasn't done, though, as he marched the Ravens right down into field-goal range. Steven Hauschka, the second-year kicker from N.C. State had a chance to win the game for the Ravens, but his 44-yard field goal sailed wide left as the Vikings prevailed.

Both teams, heading into the game, had well-deserved reputations for strong defenses. Instead of a gritty, run-and-defense battle everyone expected, we were treated to an offensive onslaught -- even if the majority of the Ravens' offense occurred during that late 11-play stretch. The two teams combined for 874 yards of total offense and averaged nearly seven yards per offensive play (Ravens 7.0, Vikings 6.8). The stat-lines show both teams with star performances on offense.

Brett Favre hit on 21-of-29 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Flacco connected on 28-of-43 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Neither signal-caller turned it over.

Ray Rice had 194 yards from scrimmage, which includes 10 receptions, and two touchdowns. Adrian Peterson carried the ball 22 times for 143 yards, also adding 23 receiving yards.

Derrick Mason caught seven balls for 97 yards and a score, while Mark Clayton added 57 receiving yards and a touchdown. Sidney Rice, the Vikings' 6-foot-4 wideout, caught 6 passes for 176 yards and Bernard Berrian added a touchdown. Also, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe hauled in a pair of touchdowns from Favre.

This was simply an offensive explosion which, unfortunately, was decided on a missed field goal. Had Hauschka converted the field goal, Vikings coach Brad Childress would likely have had to answer for his play-calling down the stretch. Instead of trying to score a touchdown, Childress played for a field goal -- and two-point lead -- with 2:00 left on the clock. Flacco had already thrown for almost 350 yards on his defense and the Ravens had scored three touchdowns in their last 11 plays. And Childress thought two points was good enough to win with 2:00 left on the clock.

He turned out to be correct, by the skin of his teeth. All's well that ends well, apparently, and the Vikings are 6-0. They'll face another tough test in Week 7, as they travel to Pittsburgh to face the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers.

The Ravens will look to lick their wounds -- they've now lost three in a row after starting 3-0 -- on a bye next week, before facing the surprising Broncos in Week 8 at home.

Childress, Vikings Survive Ravens Scare originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ziggy Hood Ready to Help, but Not Ready to Star

JJ Cooper — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:26:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North

Five weeks into the season, we really have very little idea how Steelers first-round pick Ziggy Hood will look when he gets his first extensive playing time as a pro.

Coming into this week's game, Hood has less than 25 defensive snaps under his belt -- less than five per game. And that includes 16 snaps last week, many of which came after Aaron Smith's rotator cuff started aching.

But if his 16 snaps in the Lions game is any indication, expect to see a defensive end who's able to use his hands pretty well, but also seems somewhat hesitant to really cut loose on the pass rush for fear that he'll get caught out of position. Hood did manage to help flush Daunte Culpepper once, but he also had another play where he held off on going all out for Culpepper, likely because he feared it was a screen pass. He doesn't look like a liability, but in his first serious action he wasn't a big asset either.

If you want to get a look at how Hood has played, Dagger over at Post Game Heroes has put together a cutup that has every one of Hood's snaps against the Lions.

As Mike Tomlin has made clear, the Steelers don't expect Hood to replace Smith -- he likely will get only half the snaps Travis Kirschke gets as long as Kirschke's back holds up. But they do expect him to contribute. And by doing so, Hood will now get much more experience than the Steelers had expected him to get. And while that won't help the Steelers win games this year, it will likely pay off in 2010 when the Steelers will have Smith back, a more experienced Hood and Sunny Harris (added back to the roster when Smith went on the IR).

Ziggy Hood Ready to Help, but Not Ready to Star originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With Rashard Mendenhall Sick, Willie Parker May Get Starting Job Back

JJ Cooper — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:41:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North, NFL Injuries

Just at the time that Willie Parker seems ready to return to action from his turf toe injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers are dealing with another ailing running back.

Rashard Mendenhall was sent home on Thursday with an illness. Some of the Steelers beat reporters (like the Washington Observer-Reporter's Dale Lolley) believe that the illness shouldn't be much of a problem by Sunday, but the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Scott Brown questions how much he will be able to play against the Browns.

If nothing else, the illness may push back for at least a week any questions about how coach Mike Tomlin will split the carries between Mendenhall and Parker. Parker had been getting two-thirds of the snaps in the first two games of the season when both were available, but that was before Mendenhall produced two outstanding efforts against the Chargers and Lions.

The illness may give Tomlin a reason to give Parker the start this week while splitting carries closer to 50-50. If Mendenhall outplays him again this week, it helps set the stage for Mendenhall to take over the majority of carries in upcoming weeks.

But as mentioned here earlier this week, considering Mendenhall's ability to both break long runs and move the pile, plus the fact he's under contract beyond this year, the only thing standing between Mendenhall and the starting job long term is Mendenhall's own effort -- he was benched for the Bengals game because of a poor week of work in practice.

With Rashard Mendenhall Sick, Willie Parker May Get Starting Job Back originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aaron Smith's Loss Scary for Steelers

JJ Cooper — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:26:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North, NFL Injuries

If you thought Steelers fans were panicking when they lost to the Bengals in Week 3, that has nothing on the news that Aaron Smith is done for the season. Jim Wexell over at the Steel City Insider is reporting that Smith will have surgery on his rotator cuff, and the Steelers announced Wednesday that Smith has been placed on injured reserve.

Even though Smith is not a household name around the NFL, he is the Steelers' best defensive end, and arguably the best 3-4 end in the game. When he missed the end of the 2007 season the, Steelers defense fell apart without him. The Steelers are better equipped to handle Smith's absence this time with first-round pick Ziggy Hood, as well as experienced veterans Travis Kirschke and Nick Eason, but none of them can come close to being the run stuffer or the pass rusher that Smith is.

Putting Smith on injured reserve gave Pittsburgh a chance to bring back Sonny Harris -- the Steelers' sixth-round pick this year, who had been stashed on Carolina's practice squad. Reclaiming Harris should help out next year's club's depth at defensive end.

Pittsburgh had the option of keeping Smith on the active roster -- if Smith's injury has a three-month recovery, as Wexell is reporting, he wouldn't be back until mid-January at the earliest. Had the Steelers left him off injured reserve, there was a slim chance that he could have returned for the AFC Championship (which will be played on the weekend of Jan. 24, 2010) and the Super Bowl. Placing him on I.R. eliminates that possibility.

Aaron Smith's Loss Scary for Steelers originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rashard Mendenhall Deserves Steelers' Starting Job

JJ Cooper — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:37:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North

Willie Parker's balky turf toe may be healthy enough to get back on the field this Sunday. Normally getting a starting tailback back is a good thing, but in Mike Tomlin's case this may be an added complication.

There's an old NFL adage that you can't lose your job because of an injury, but there's an a big if to that promise for many coaches--you can't lose your job unless the team discovers that your backup is better than you. We'll find out soon whether Tomlin believes that the promise is an absolute one.

Right now the Steelers are discovering that in 2009 Rashard Mendenhall is a better back than Parker.

Mendenhall has shown in the past two weeks that he is the Steelers' best back, and it doesn't take much expertise to figure that out. He runs with more power than Parker, he shows more decisiveness in getting to the hole and he even has shown a better ability to get outside for big gains. Eight of Mendenhall's 51 carries have gone for 10 yards or more while six of Parker's 52 carries have gone for 10+. If Parker can't provide more big plays then Mendenhall then it's hard to make an argument for starting Parker.

Breaking It Down
A look at how Willie Parker's carries compare to Rashard Mendenhall's, percentage-wise, in terms of yards gained:
Player	Negative Yards	0 Yards	1-3 Yards	4+ Yards
Parker	17.3%	13.5%	36.5%	32.7%
Mendenhall	9.8%	13.7%	27.5%	49%

It's easy to focus too much on the big plays. Because of his eight 10+yard runs (including four runs of 20 yards or more), Mendenhall's overall rushing stats are much better than Parker's this year. But the success of an offense is often built on getting solid gains on first and second down that can put the passing game in good situations.

The biggest difference may be Mendenhall's ability to avoid second and long. On first and 10, Parker has 27 carries for 64 yards (2.4 yards per carry). In the same situation, Mendenhall has 30 carries for 185 yards (6.2 yards per carry). Mendenhall's stats are bumped up by a 39-yard run, but even without that he still averages 5 yards per carry on first down. Mendenhall's ability to get the Steelers into second and four or five compared to second and eight opens up many more options on second down.

That's not only true on first down. Overall, 31 percent of Parker's carries have gone for zero or negative yardage compared to 23.5 percent for Mendenhall. Parker has the big play ability, but Mendenhall's ability to lower his head and bull forward means that he's more likely to get positive yardage out of a play when the blocking breaks down.

The Steelers will be able to use both Parker and Mendenhall over the final 11 games of the season, but it is clear that there is a changing of the guard going on.

Rashard Mendenhall Deserves Steelers' Starting Job originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Bengals at Ravens

R.J. White — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, Ravens, AFC North, FanHouse Previews

Cincinnati (3-1) really could be 4-0 and would be, if not for the Madden-esque TD reception by Denver's Brandon Stokley in Week 1. Since that game, the Bengals traveled to Green Bay and beat a heavily-favored Packer team, took down world champion Pittsburgh at home, and just barely survived a letdown game in Cleveland last week.

Baltimore (3-1) feels like they should be 4-0, victimized by an iffy penalty in last week's game at Foxboro (if the game was at home, are the Ravens not penalized?). With Pittsburgh lurking, each of these Cincinnati-Baltimore games are critical in battling for a playoff spot. Most people see the Ravens as a contender, but the Bengals as a pretender.

Is that fair?

More Previews: Browns-Bills | Cowboys-Chiefs
Bucs-Eagles | Raiders-Giants | Steelers-Lions
Redskins-Panthers | Vikings-49ers

Three Key Questions:

1. Can Baltimore rookie Michael Oher transition smoothly to the blind side in replacing Jared Gaither, and will Marshall Yanda be able to slip right in on the right side?

2. Will Cedric Benson find any room to run against the No. 1 rushing defense in the league, one that allows less than 60 yards on the ground per game?

3. How many game-day tweets will we see from Chad Ochocinco?

Player in the Spotlight: Antwan Odom. After totaling a whopping seven sacks in the first two games of the season, Odom was held to just one sack combined against Pittsburgh and Cleveland. With Oher drawing his first start on the left side of the offensive line, it will be on Odom to create consistent pressure on Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco. The Bengals can't afford to blitz Flacco too often, as the Ravens have displayed the ability to hit any number of offensive weapons during a drive. The less people in coverage, the easier it will be for Flacco to find the open man. Odom's final line should be a reflection of the game result, when all is said and done.

Cincinnati's Path to Victory: The Bengals will try to establish a running game, but the deck is stacked against him. We know the Ravens' defense will be gunning for Ochocinco, so it's up to Carson Palmer to consistently find his secondary options in the passing game. If Laveranues Coles and Chris Henry turn in performances in line with their first four games, then the Bengals have no shot. So these secondary receivers will have to step up and come through on the road in a hostile Baltimore environment. It will be nearly impossible to play successfully from behind, so expect Palmer to try and get everyone involved early. If they can manage a halftime lead, allowing them to keep feeding Benson the rock, then they have a good shot at pulling off the win.

Baltimore's Path to Victory: Both Oher and Yanda are great run blockers, so Baltimore's prospects will be tied tot he ground game. The dynamic duo of Willis McGahee (255 yards, seven TDs) and Ray Rice (429 yards, one TD) should expect double-digit touches yet again. The Cincinnati defense features a pair of up-and-coming young cornerbacks, but the secondary has been susceptible to big games from little-known receivers (Cleveland's Mohamed Massaquoi and Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace) in recent weeks. Sure, they have to contain veteran Derrick Mason, but former Bengal Kelley Washington can be just as dangerous to this team.

Prediction: In order for Odom to work his magic, Cincinnati has to jump to an early lead. Expect a few shots down the field by Palmer in the first quarter. Baltimore will counter with a steady dose of Rice in between the 20s and McGahee in the red zone. If Bengals defensive tackle Tank Johnson isn't 100% over his foot injury, which held him out of the Browns game, the Ravens should have no problem moving the ball on the ground. Once the Bengals offense gets desperate, that's when the Ravens defense attacks. Baltimore should have no problem with Cincinnati in the second half, which should lead to an easy win for the Ravens. Baltimore 31, Cincinnati 16.

FanHouse Preview: Bengals at Ravens originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Woodley's Sackless Start Doesn't Mean He's Not Being Productive

JJ Cooper — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:11:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North, NFL Analysis

The Steelers pass rush has missing in action for much of the first month of the season and a lot of that blame has started to focus on outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley who has zero sacks in four games after picking up 11.5 sacks last season.

But as Dagger over at Post Game Heroes points out, Woodley's lack of sack production doesn't mean he's not being productive. Against the Chargers, Woodley had only one tackle and no sacks but he did do an excellent job of shutting down the passes in the flat to LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles.

Dagger's analysis showed that Woodley only rushed the passer on 59 percent of the Chargers pass plays. On 41 percent of them, he dropped into coverage. Usually, Woodley is rushing on anywhere between 70 and 80 percent of pass plays. And as Dagger showed with a cutup of some of Woodley's plays, while Woodley didn't get a sack, he is still contributing to the Steelers defense.

It's also worth noting that Woodley went four straight games at the end of the regular season last year without a sack, but he rebounded to record six sacks in three playoff games.

Woodley's Sackless Start Doesn't Mean He's Not Being Productive originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steelers Offensive Line Turns Into Bullies For a Night

JJ Cooper — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:25:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North

If the Steelers offensive line keeps playing like they did on Sunday night, all of their critics (here included) will go away. In lining up and blowing the Chargers off the ball, Pittsburgh put together its best offensive line performance in years.

Now this wasn't a Jerome Bettis-in-his-prime performance when Pittsburgh would run though eight and nine-man fronts. But thanks to the threat of an impressive passing game, Pittsburgh was able to run at will. Fill-in running back Rashard Mendenhall rushed for more yards (165) against the Chargers than starter Willie Parker rushed for in the first three games of the season (159).

.But even more impressive than Mendenhall's five runs of 10+ yards was his work in short-yardage situations. The Steelers were four of five on third and fourth and 1 against the Chargers. They were 1-of-4 in those situations coming into the game. By keeping drives going, Pittsburgh was able to control the clock and get touchdowns instead of field goals. Coming into the game, Pittsburgh had scored only thre touchdowns in seven trips inside the red zone. Against the Chargers, they were five-for-five.

Many of Pittsburgh's offensive line problems in 2008 were assignment issues. The Steelers would have four linemen doing their job on a running play, but one mistake would blow up the play. Against the Chargers, the five linemen worked as one unit. San Diego may have been without Jamal Williams and Shawne Merriman was banged up, but this is the kind of performance a group can build on. With games against the Lions and Browns coming up, Pittsburgh's offensive line has a chance to build some confidence.

Don't start voting them into the Pro Bowl or anything, but after getting criticized week after week, the Steelers offensive line deserves plenty of credit for how the played against the Chargers

Steelers Offensive Line Turns Into Bullies For a Night originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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