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Thursday-and-Long: Don't Sleep on the Dallas Cowboys

Dan Graziano — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Steelers, NFC East, NFL Analysis

In case you hadn't noticed, sports these days are all about Goliath. In 2009, the Steelers, Lakers, North Carolina Tar Heels and now the Yankees have all won titles in their respective sports. Cinderella is yesterday's news. The teams that win these days are the teams that always win, and if you think that's boring, well, tough. You can kiss one of Derek Jeter's five World Series rings.

So with that in mind, we need to be really careful about overlooking the Dallas Cowboys.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. All you ever hear about the Cowboys is what's wrong with them. Terrell Owens was a pain. Roy Williams is a loudmouth, too, and isn't good enough to replace T.O. Tony Romo's too concerned with his golf game and his high-wattage love life to ever attain his potential. The new stadium is ridiculous...

But you know what else? The Cowboys are 5-2. And if they win in Philadelphia on Sunday night, they'll be 6-2 and in first place all by themselves. Their defense is playing great. Their three-headed rushing attack (you know, the one with which they were torching the Giants in Week 2 before they inexplicably decided to start throwing the ball late?) looks healthy. Romo's found something with Miles Austin, and just when you thought it was safe to hang their plaque in the underachievers' hall of fame, here the Cowboys are, clacking helmets with the top teams in the league.

I have a couple of stats that indicate that this may not be a fluke. The first is a basic one: the Cowboys score a lot more points than they give up. Dallas ranks seventh in the NFL and fourth in the NFC in point differential (points scored minus points allowed) as shown here:

1. New Orleans +119
2. Indianapolis +106
3. New England +100
4. Philadelphia +70
5. Minnesota +70
6. Baltimore +62
7. Dallas +61

My second stat doesn't have a name that I know of, and I'm open to suggestion, but this one is intended to measure the extent to which a team controls the running game on both sides of the ball. It's another simple calculation. We take the team's average yards per rush on offense and subtract the average yards per rush it allows on defense. The principle is that if you're good at running the ball but no good at stopping it, that catches up with you eventually.

Dallas posts a score of plus-1.2 in this made-up category, averaging 5.4 yards per carry (second-highest in the league behind Tennessee and the curve-wrecking Chris Johnson) while allowing only 4.2 yards per carry to its opponents. That plus-1.2 is tied for best in the league with Tennessee (and its aforementioned curve-wrecker). And while this stat doesn't appear to be a great indicator through eight weeks of this particular season (Jacksonville is right behind at plus-1.1 while the 5-3 Texans rank last with a minus-1.4, and top teams such as New Orleans and Minnesota score plus-0.1 and 0.0 respectively), it holds up over 16 games, historically, and it bodes well for the Cowboys' chances going forward.

Now all they have to do is win in Philly on Sunday night, and this will all make tons of sense.

Special Explanatory Note of the Week

Why is Chris Johnson a curve-wrecker? Well, he leads the NFL so far this year with 10 runs of 20 or more yards. Adrian Peterson is second in that category with eight such runs. Maurice Jones-Drew and Cedric Benson have six each, and no one else has more than five.

What's more, there have been 20 runs this year of 40 or more yards, and Johnson has five of them. Jones-Drew and Frank Gore have three each, three backs have two each and no one else has more than one.

Those kinds of numbers skew an average, and Johnson is averaging 6.92 yards per carry while leading the NFL with 824 rushing yards. That average is the highest any NFL rushing leader has posted through eight weeks since the merger, well ahead of Jamal Lewis' 5.89 average through the first eight weeks of the 2003 season. If it holds up (and even if it slips a little), Johnson would become the sixth man in NFL history (and the first since 1973) to lead the league in rushing with an average of at least 6.0 yards per carry. The others:

Beattie Feathers, 1934 Chicago Bears, 1,004 total yards, 8.4 ypc
Jim Brown, 1963 Cleveland Browns, 1,863 total yards, 6.4 ypc
Barry Sanders, 1997 Detroit Lions, 2,053 total yards, 6.1 ypc
Joe Perry, 1954 San Francisco 49ers, 1,049 total yards, 6.1 ypc
O.J. Simpson, 1973 Buffalo Bills, 2,003 total yards, 6.0 ypc

Which also makes this the very rare and difficult-to-repeat "Beattie Feathers Note of the Week."

Hat-Tip of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers

For their handling of the Ryan Clark situation. The Pittsburgh safety said Wednesday he still hasn't decided whether he'll play Monday in Denver, where the high altitude combined with his sickle-cell trait nearly killed him and forced the surgical removal of his spleen and gall bladder after he played there two years ago. The Steelers get kudos for being up-front and not playing typical NFL-team injury games with this situation, and for making sure Clark doesn't feel any pressure to play if he doesn't feel up to it. The more you see from the Steelers and the way they operate, the more you realize why they're so (a) successful and (b) respected.

Seats Over Heat -- The five NFL head coaches most likely to be the next to lose their jobs:

1. Tom Cable, Raiders. Honestly, at this point, what could they be waiting for?
2. Eric Mangini, Browns. The only thing that could save him is that the Browns always seem to do the wrong thing.
3. Dick Jauron, Bills. Can't be but one long losing streak away.
4. Jim Zorn, Redskins. Chances he's coaching the team in 2010 are the same as the chances you are.
5. Jeff Fisher, Titans. Incredible record, incredible longevity, but if they don't finish huge, this could be the end.

Three for the Road -- Road teams in the NFL this year are a combined 52-64, for a .448 winning percentage. With that in mind, here are three road teams I think will buck the trend and win this weekend:

1. Arizona at Chicago. Bears are 3-0 at home, Cardinals are 3-0 on the road. Something's got to give. I say it's the Bears' (extremely) offensive line.
2. Dallas at Philadelphia. See above. Basically, Philly is the more exciting team, Dallas is the more solidly built. I'll take the Cowboy RBs to wear down the Eagles' D in a classic.
3. Pittsburgh at Denver. No, I'm not stubborn. I admit I was wrong about the Broncos before the season. But I'm not wrong about the AFC North, and Denver showed last week it can't play there.

(Ed. note: Last week, on twitter, I picked Vikings over Packers, Rams over Lions and Giants over Eagles. So, so far on this project we're 2-1.)

It's Just a Fantasy -- Three guys I wish I had on my fantasy team this week:

1. Aaron Rodgers vs. Tampa Bay: Sweet relief! A week without facing a real pass rush!
2. Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Kansas City: Every week, I wish for MJD. But against the Chiefs? Hide the women and children.
3. Michael Crabtree vs. Tennessee. Was he a fool for his holdout? Sure. Greedy? You betcha. But they all are, and this one also happens to be a freak of nature. The bet here is he never looks back.

Traveling Man

The game I'll be covering this week is Houston at Indianapolis. A chance for the upstart Texans to pick up a statement win (not to mention a division win) against the high-flying, undefeated Colts. Can Houston adjust without Owen Daniels? Do they have anybody in the secondary who can even slow down Reggie Wayne, let alone stop him? Good questions, and I don't know the answers (though I have a hunch on the second). But let's just say I'm not expecting a 6-3 game.

Thursday-and-Long: Don't Sleep on the Dallas Cowboys originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hines Ward's the NFL's Dirtiest Player?

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

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North

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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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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Zebra Report: Simmer, 'Stealer' Haters

Matt Snyder — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, Vikings, NFL Referees

Zebra Report is FanHouse's analysis of actual NFL rules and how they are to be applied ... because most fans think they could do a better job than the NFL officials, yet definitely could not. Click here for an introduction as to how we do things.

Of all the complaints about officiating, I think the most maddening is how people who hate the Pittsburgh Steelers -- so, a really, really large contingent -- like to label them the "Stealers" and proclaim they always get the calls. This past weekend was a great example, as the Steelers took down the Vikings fair-and-square, but some people just can't seem to grasp the concept.

First of all, there are tons of complaints about the tripping call which negated a Vikings touchdown -- and was soon followed by a Steelers' defensive touchdown. Honestly, I'm not quite sure what the fuss is about. Tripping is defined as (Rule 3-40) "the use of the leg in obstructing any opponent." In rule 12-1-5, it clearly states that anyone can block an opponent as long as he's not tripping him. I keep seeing the word "phantom" used in conjunction with this call, but click here to watch the highlight (about the 2:20 mark) and keep the rule in mind. Try to be unbiased, consider the rule and see what you see.

I really hate it when people say something along the lines of "the officials should let the players decide the game." They did! If Jeff Dugan could have blocked his man successfully instead of diving at toward the opponent's lower-half and whipping his legs up, the Vikings would have scored a touchdown. Instead, he committed a penalty and got caught. No touchdown. A rule was broken and a price was paid. That's elementary.

Can anyone seriously make the argument that Dugan did not use his legs to obstruct the opponent he was trying to block? If so, please feel free to post your argument in the comments section. I would love to see it.

Speaking of Dugan, him plowing over the official during the kickoff return was neither funny nor acceptable. Look, the officials are part of the field and they take on a certain risk when being out on the field. In fact, umpires (the ones who line up in the vicinity of the inside linebackers and watch the line play) may start wearing helmets next season. Regardless of the risk and the fact that people are miffed with the guys from time to time, they are still human beings -- ones who aren't wearing pads like the players. If Dugan didn't see the official, man, he really should have. He appeared to be running toward him for several steps and his helmet was facing the official. If he did -- and it's very suspicious, considering he was just flagged for tripping four plays earlier -- then he should be suspended. To blatantly run over a guy with a clear motive is easily grounds for punishment. I'd like to believe Dugan was trying to find someone to block and accidentally plowed over Richard Reels (the back judge), but we'll never know for sure. They are both lucky Reels wasn't seriously injured.

In case anyone is curious, it is obviously illegal to contact an official intentionally during any part of the game, but there's no way to prove intent on this play, thus, they couldn't have called any sort of penalty on Dugan for the contact.

There was also a delay of game called on the Vikings defense. The common misconception among casual fans is that there is no such thing as delay of game other than when the play clock strikes zero. There are several other ways to get a delay of game penalty. Here they are (Rule 4-6-5, page 22):

Article 5 Other examples of action or inaction that are to be construed as delay of the game include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) a player unnecessarily remains on a dead ball or on a runner who has been downed;

(b) the snapper repeatedly snaps the ball after the neutral zone is established and before the Referee can assume his position (see 7-3-3-c-2);

(c) undue delay by either team in assembling after a timeout;

(d) a defensive player aligned in a stationary position within one yard of the line of scrimmage makes quick and abrupt actions that are not a part of normal defensive player movement and are an obvious attempt to cause an offensive player(s) to foul (false start). (The Referee shall blow his whistle immediately.);

(e) spiking or throwing the ball in the field of play after a down has ended, except after a score.

I haven't been able to find a replay or explanation on this one, but I've heard the Vikings were accused of violating (d) on the play in question, which is why I bolded it. The game log shows the penalty on Cedric Griffin, a cornerback, so maybe he was trying to get a wide receiver to flinch. The bottom line is that it's definitely possible to have delay of game called on the defense.

Finally, a collegiate note: the Pac-10 has suspended an official for not seeing one of the most blatant facemasks we ever will. I've often tried to educate the masses that each different official has different responsibilities on every individual play. Thus, in this case, every official would not have been looking at the receiver or had a good angle to see the facemask. How at least one person didn't see the helmet of the player catching a touchdown pass, though, is pretty egregious, which is obviously why the Pac-10 has taken action.

Easy week, as I didn't see much in my inbox other than plays from the Steelers-Vikings game. I guess that's the result of having so many blowouts.

Got a rules-related question? Whether it's elementary, high school or NFL, email TZR and he'll see what he can do.

Zebra Report: Simmer, 'Stealer' Haters originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:00 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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Fourth-Quarter Fireworks Turn Steelers' Win Over Vikings Into a Classic

Chris Burke — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, Vikings

The much-anticipated showdown between the Vikings and Steelers at Heinz Field went pretty much as expected for three quarters -- hard-nosed, low-scoring, old-fashioned football. Then the fourth quarter came, and things went off the rails.

Pittsburgh held a 13-10 lead when the final frame began, and needed just one play to get inside Minnesota's 10. But on the Steelers' second fourth-quarter snap, Rashard Mendenhall coughed up a fumble. The Vikings then marched 89 yards in 17 plays, from their own 3 to the Steelers' 8. On third-and-goal, Brett Favre dropped back to pass and was stripped by Pittsburgh lineman Brett Keisel. Defensive end LaMarr Woodley scooped up the loose ball and rumbled, James Harrison Super Bowl-style, 77 yards for a touchdown.

More: Check Box Score | Ref Injured on Harvin's Return | Packers Rout Browns

"I got to the 40 and I didn't think I was going to make it," Woodley said. Just like Harrison, of course, he did.

20-10 Steelers, 6:23 left. Game over, right?

Not so fast. Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin took the ensuing kickoff back 88 yards (video below), a thrilling return that included one of Harvin's blockers accidentally clobbering a referee.

And all that just set up a frantic final six minutes -- Pittsburgh punted the ball back to Minnesota with a little more than three minutes left, leaving Favre plenty of time to get his team into, at least, field-goal range. He did just that, too, marching Minnesota to the Pittsburgh 19.

On 2nd-and-3 with 1:15 left, though, Favre's pass for Chester Taylor instead wound up in the hands of Pittsburgh's Keyaron Fox, who raced back the other direction 82 yards for the Steelers' second defensive touchdown in five minutes. That one did salt the game away, 27-17.

"Brett tried to force it in there and the running back bobbled it and slipped out of his hands and it fell into my lap," Fox said. "I had just run across the field after Peterson and I was winded, so it felt like it was 100-plus yards."

Minnesota fell to 6-1, its first loss in the Favre era, while Pittsburgh improved to 5-2 and, for the moment pending the outcome of Chicago-Cincinnati, took over first place in the AFC North.

The game almost single-handedly made up for a subpar set of early games in Week 7. Houston's narrow victory over San Francisco was the only other matchup that was remotely competitive -- but the final seven minutes of the Steelers' triumph more than made up for the rest of it.

Fourth-Quarter Fireworks Turn Steelers' Win Over Vikings Into a Classic originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Judge Refuses to Dismiss Rape Suit Against Roethlisberger

FanHouse Newswire — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:02:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, NFL Quarterbacks

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- A Nevada judge denied a motion Thursday to dismiss a lawsuit accusing Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of raping a woman at a hotel-casino in Lake Tahoe.

Washoe District Court Judge Brent Adams also refused a request by a lawyer for the two-time Super Bowl champ to sanction the woman's attorney for pursuing the case without sufficient evidence.

The judge said in a one-page order that Cal Dunlap, a lawyer and former district attorney, had met the minimal standards required to avoid the imposition of sanctions in his representation of the former VIP host at Harrah's Lake Tahoe who accused the quarterback of sexually assaulting her and Harrah's of covering it up.

"I'm not surprised by the judge's ruling," Dunlap said. He declined further comment.

David Cornwell, Roethlisberger's lead attorney, said in a statement the judge's ruling suggests he was giving the woman "the benefit of the doubt at a stage in the proceedings where a full examination of her contemporaneous statements and conduct is premature."

The suit seeks a minimum of $440,000 in damages from Roethlisberger and at least $50,000 in damages from Harrah's officials regarding the alleged incident in July 2008 in a penthouse across the street from the upscale Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.

Roethlisberger was in town for a celebrity golf tournament.

He has denied the allegations and maintains the woman acted voluntarily at all times while in his room.

His lawyers have said the fact that she never filed a formal criminal complaint with police is proof she made up the story to try to secure a big payout from the NFL star.

In a filing last week, the lawyers sought a minimum of $10,000 in counter damages, saying the accuser's "overzealous" lawyers "turned a blind eye to evidence, no matter how credible, that cast their client's story in doubt."

Franklin Brockway Gowdy, another lawyer for the quarterback, wrote in the filing that the complaint "is based on the fantastical imaginings of a desperate woman with significant credibility issues."

"In contrast to this house of lies slapped together with two sticks and duct tape, Mr. Roethlisberger is armed with the truth," Gowdy wrote.

The woman alleged in her lawsuit that Roethlisberger lured her to his room under the false pretense of needing his television repaired. She said she didn't file a criminal complaint because she feared Harrah's would side with Roethlisberger and she would be fired.

The woman said she determined the TV was functioning properly but as she turned to leave, the 6-foot-5, 240-pound quarterback blocked her exit.

She claims he grabbed her and started to kiss her, and she was "shocked and stunned that this previously friendly man, that appeared to be a gentleman in her previous contacts with him was suddenly preventing her from leaving, was assaulting her and battering her."

She said she feared he could or would physically harm her if she tried to fight him off, but that she objected and protested several times to no avail.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Judge Refuses to Dismiss Rape Suit Against Roethlisberger originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Between the Lines: Which Tackles Are Starring and Which Are Struggling?

JJ Cooper — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Packers, Panthers, Steelers, 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.

If you're a reasonably diligent football fan, it's pretty easy to follow which running backs, quarterbacks and wide receivers are living up to their reputations -- you just check the stats. It's not as easy, but you can also get a pretty good sense of which pass rushers are having big years, by checking out the sacks.

But when it comes to evaluating offensive linemen, it's a lot tougher to know which blockers are starring and which ones are living off reputation.

After logging 401 sacks this season, it's time to start diving into the numbers to try to get a better sense of who has stood out this year.

Thanks the Sunday Ticket Shortcuts and the NFL's easily available gamebooks, I've watched and re-watched all but two of the 401 sacks that have taken place this season in the NFL (thanks to CBS' technical screw-up five minutes of last week's Redskins game was lost forever).

I've logged how many rushers were sent on the play, who gave up the sack, the down and distance, how long the quarterback held the ball before the sack and who was responsible for the sack. Thankfully on most sacks the culprit is pretty clear. Usually it's a sacker simply lining up and beating the man trying to block him. On other plays it can get more difficult, as a blitzer will come free or a stunt will lead to a missed hand-off from one offensive lineman to another. In those cases, I've assigned the block to the blocker most likely to have been responsible for the rusher. If two blockers were both responsible, I assigned them each half a sack. And if the quarterback ran his way into a sack or a play call left no blocker with a chance to block the sacker, that sack was logged as the responsibility of the quarterback or play call (roughly 80 of the 401 sacks fall into that category).

So lets take a look at which offensive tackles have given up the most sacks. Eventually we'll list every offensive linemen, but considering how many centers and guards are still without a sack allowed, that can wait a couple of weeks. But if you're an offensive tackle who has played every week without giving up a sack, you're putting together a pretty impressive season.

OFFENSIVE TACKLES SACKS ALLOWED
Allen Barbre	Green Bay	6
Levi Brown	Arizona	5
Jordan Gross	Carolina	5
Daryn Colledge	Green Bay	5
Jeff Backus	Detroit	4
Erik Pears	Oakland	4
Duane Brown	Houston	4
Demetrius Bell	Buffalo	4
Winston Justice	Philadelphia	3.5
Stephen Heyer	Washington	3.5
Jeromey Clary	San Diego	3.5
Max Starks	Pittsburgh	3.5
John St. Clair	Cleveland	3.5
Ray Willis	Seattle	3
Phil Loadholt	Minnesota	3
Michael Roos	Tennessee	3
Marcus McNeill	San Diego	3
Mike Gandy	Arizona	3
Kyle Williams	Seattle	3
Jake Long	Miami	3
Flozell Adams	Dallas	3
Eben Britton	Jacksonville	3
Donald Penn	Tampa Bay	3
Andrew Whitworth	Cincinnati	3
Anthony Collins	Cincinnati	3
Ryan Harris	Denver	2.5
Michael Oher	Baltimore	2.5
Chris Samuel	Washington	2.5
Brandon Albert	Kansas City	2.5
Vernon Carey	Miami	2
Ryan Clady	Denver	2
Jeremy Trueblood	Tampa Bay	2
Joe Thomas	Cleveland	2
Jeff Otah	Carolina	2
Jermon Bushrod	New Orleans	2
Chris Williams	Chicago	2
Chad Clifton	Green Bay	2
Bryant McKinnie	Minnesota	2
Brandon Frye	Seattle	2
Mario Henderson	Oakland	1.5
D'Brickshaw Ferguson	N.Y. Jets	1.5
Tra Thomas	Jacksonville	1
Sam Baker	Atlanta	1
Ryan O'Callaghan	Kansas City	1
Nick Kaczur	New England	1
Kareem McKenzie	N.Y. Giants	1
Jason Peters	Philadelphia	1
Jon Jansen	Detroit	1
Jared Gaither	Baltimore	1
Eric Winston	Houston	1
Damien Woody	N.Y. Jets	1
David Diehl	N.Y. Giants	1
Cornell Green	Oakland	1
Brad Butler	Buffalo	1
Adam Goldberg	St. Louis	1
Alex Barron	St. Louis	1
Orlando Pace	Chicago	0.5
Jonathan Scott	Buffalo	0.5
Willie Colon	Pittsburgh	0
Tyson Clabo	Atlanta	0
Sean Locklear	Seattle	0
Ryan Diem	Indianapolis	0
Matt Light	New England	0
Mark Colombo	Dallas	0
Jonathan Stinchcomb	New Orleans	0
Ichekuku Ndukwe	Kansas City	0
David Stewart	Tennessee	0
Charlie Johnson	Indianapolis	0

If you're a Packers fan, it probably won't surprise you to see a pair of Green Bay offensive linemen near the top of the list for sacks allowed by tackles.

But no one expected Packers right tackle Allen Barbre or fill-in tackle Daryn Colledge to be anything more than adequate. Barbre is truly the Packers' weakest link now that Chad Clifton is back at left tackle. And as we documented last year, Cardinals right tackle Levi Brown struggles with pass blocking, so seeing him near the top of the list is almost to be expected.

But seeing Panthers' franchise player Jordan Gross among the list of shame is pretty shocking. It seems Julius Peppers isn't the only Panthers star who has struggled at times this year. Gross had a disastrous three-sacks-allowed game against the Redskins as Andre Carter beat him a couple of times on simple speed rushes around the outside. One of those five sacks came when he appeared to miss his assignment on an overload blitz by the Eagles, but he's also been beaten multiple times one-on-one.

At the other end of the spectrum, Indianapolis has allowed only two sacks all season and neither has been allowed by an offensive tackle. The Falcons have also allowed only two sacks -- both in the season opener against the Dolphins. Part of that can be credited to Matt Ryan's quick release, but Tyson Clabo (0 sacks) and Sam Baker (1 sack) also deserve lots of praise.

It's also impressive to see Steelers right tackle Willie Colon among the unblemished. Colon has had pass protection problems in the past (6.5 sacks last year), but he's shown significant improvement this season.

Here are some other notes from watching the lines for Week Six.

-- There is a lot of legitimate criticism of Andy Reid's decision to forget the running game in the Eagles' shocking upset loss to the Raiders. But it's nearly as surprising that the Raiders' leaky offensive line was able to handle the Eagles' pass rush. Oakland's line has had lots of turnovers this year -- three diferent players have started at left guard, there have been two different centers and two different right tackles. Erik Pears, the fill-in left guard and right tackle, has been a weak link with four sacks and the Raiders need to work on their backs blitz pick-up -- the running backs are responsible for four sacks -- but left tackle Mario Henderson (1.5 sacks allowed) is giving the Raiders their first solid play at left tackle in years.

-- The Kansas City Chiefs may need to rethink some of their blocking schemes. Tight end Sean Ryan gave up his fifth sack of the season on Sunday against the Redskins. No other tight end in the league has given up more than two sacks this year.

It's hard to blame Ryan too much for this. He's given up sacks to Osi Umenyiora, Brian Orakpo and Juqua Parker. It's hard to ask a tight end to adequately block three of the better pass rushers in the NFC East. Ryan bounced round to three different teams last year, so he's fortunate to have a starting job, but the Chiefs are asking him to do things that he's not really capable of doing when they ask him to handle defensive ends one-on-one.

-- There's been a lot of explanations given for the Broncos' amazing defensive turnaround. And there are a lot of good reasons to explain why the Broncos have gone from 29th last year in yards allowed to second this year.

You can credit new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan first of all for giving the defense an identity. Last year the Broncos switched back and forth between the 3-4 and the 4-3 like they were changing socks. And even when they did go with the 3-4, they did it with undersized linebackers like Boss Bailey while asking undersized defensive ends like Elvis Dumervill to play up on the line.

This year Nolan has made them a 3-4 team with an identity, and he's done an excellent job of getting pass rushers like Dumervill into situations to create havoc.

But what stood out against the Chargers was Nolan's clever use of delayed blitzes. You don't often see delayed blitzes because they usually take too long to develop pressure against the fast-paced NFL offenses. You have to time it perfectly -- rush too soon and the offense can adjust to pick up the second blitzer, rush too late and it doesn't even matter.

But Nolan pulled out the delayed blitz in perfect situations against the Chargers. San Diego likes to throw deep to Vincent Jackson and the rest of their crew of tall receivers, so the delayed blitz has a little more time to reach Phillip Rivers.

It worked three different times against the Chargers. On the first sack, defensive back Andre Goodman waited until a linebacker had fully occupied the Chargers tailback serving as the quarterback's last line of defense. By delaying his rush, Goodman got a free rush at Rivers for an easy sack. The same approach worked later for a sack by linebacker D.J. Williams. It also worked to a degree on the Broncos' last sack of the night, although defensive linemen Darrell Reid simply beat Louis Vasquez for the sack.

Between the Lines: Which Tackles Are Starring and Which Are Struggling? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adrian Peterson Joins Antoine Winfield On Vikings' Injured List

JJ Cooper — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, Vikings, NFC North, NFL Injuries

Whether you win or lose against the Ravens, they are physical enough that you suffer for a couple of weeks afterward.

The Vikings got the win on Sunday, but they also got the bruises that come with it.

The biggest problem for the Vikings is cornerback Antoine Winfield's foot injury. When Winfield left the game on Sunday the Ravens' pass offense suddenly became a world-beater as backup Karl Paymah quickly proved he's not really ready for a starting job. The Vikings are not ruling out Winfield playing on Sunday, but everyone else is.

Now the news is out that Adrian Peterson was limited in practice on Wednesday with a sprained ankle. Unlike Winfield, it's highly likely that Peterson will play on Sunday, but an ankle sprain is not the news the Vikings want to hear as they get ready to face the Steelers. If Peterson is healthy, he's the perfect weapon to attack a Steelers' run defense that is trying to recover from the loss of defensive end Aaron Smith. But if Peterson is limited in any way, it makes Steelers' coordinator Dick LeBeau's job much easier.

While the Vikings are limping, Pittsburgh (with the exception of Smith) is healthier than it has been in any game since the season opener.

Adrian Peterson Joins Antoine Winfield On Vikings' Injured List originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:30:00 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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Ref Says 'Close Enough,' Gives Steelers First Down vs. Browns

Michael David Smith — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:15:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, Steelers

In the second quarter of the Steelers' win over the Browns on Sunday, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger plowed into the line of scrimmage on a fourth-down sneak and appeared to be stopped short of the first down.

Referee Walt Anderson called for a measurement and the ball looked like it was about an inch short of a first down, and the Cleveland defense started to celebrate. And then Anderson signaled first down, Steelers.

"It was a close play - and we got lucky," Roethlisberger told the Associated Press after the game.

Browns linebacker David Bowens said he had no idea how the play could have been a first down.

"He made the call; you have to live with it," Bowens said. "I don't know if there was (an explanation). He just said first down and that's it."

Anderson claimed after the game that he stood by the call, and he said people watching on TV might have been fooled by the camera angle.

"If you shot that angle from the other side, it might actually look like it's further in advance of the stake of what it was," Anderson said.

I dunno. Anderson had a better view of it than I did, but it sure doesn't look to me like it could be a first down from any angle.

Ref Says 'Close Enough,' Gives Steelers First Down vs. Browns originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:15:00 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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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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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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