Steelers lose to the Packers 13-9

The Steelers’ Saturday night game with the Green Bay Packers was the home game debut for head coach Mike Tomlin’s game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The Steelers lost the game 13-9 to a 1-1 record in the pre-season. While the game didn’t go as sweet as it did against the Saints last week, Tomlin saw numerous negatives mainly from the backups. A fumble and a blocked field goal were a few things that went wrong for the team.

Last week, we saw that the Steelers’ starting unit was able to score on their opening drive by throwing the ball against the Saints’ secondary. Ben Roethlisberger looked as if he was back into his 2005 form. But, on third down, Roethlisberger was stripped from his blind side by Cullen Jenkins, who recovered the ball for the Packers. This was exactly one of the reasons why the Steelers failed to make the playoffs last season, many turnovers.

Like a true quarterback, Roethlisberger tried to bounce back on the following possession but couldn’t. His night ended 2 for 2 for 14 yards and 1 turnover on two series. Second string quarterback Charlie Batch went 3 for 5 for 97 yards with 1 touchdown, and third string quarterback Brian St. Pierre finished 10 for 23 for 99 yards.

The defense held their own just like they did last week. The starting unit made one play after another, showing a lot of athleticism on the field. Safety Troy Polamalu was everywhere on the field for the starting unit, both in Brett Favre’s face and in coverage of a receiver. In back to back weeks, the Steelers’ defense has held the opposing teams’ starting unit scoreless. Just as they did to Drew Brees, they made Favre look uncomfortable. The Future Hall of Famer went 2 for 7 for 7 yards against the Steelers’ rough neck defense.

So far in the pre-season, the Steelers’ starting unit has been looking good. Although that fumble worries me because it happened on the first possession. Imagine if they would have played throughout the whole game. We wouldn’t know how many turnovers they would have had.

I’m sure they’ll go back to practice and correct the situation at the offensive line, particularly Roethlisberger’s blind side. The starters have only turned the ball over once in the two pre-season games played, which is showing good signs from last season.The backs-ups didn’t play as well as they did last week. After a 6-0 in the first quarter, and leading 9-3 at the half, the offense failed to score and the defense gave up 10 points in the third.

I don’t know if the Steelers knew that the backup quarterback Aaron Rogers could run or not. If they didn’t, they were definitely surprised. The back-ups pass rushing was nonexistent in the game for the Steelers’ third units. Rogers got where he wanted anytime he wanted. They gave up 168 yards total passing and a touchdown and a 20-yard run to this guy.

Written by Pat Lovell - The Steeler Fanatic
Pat has been following the Pittsburgh Steelers for over 30 years and is known worldwide as "The Steeler Fanatic". If you are interested in contributing to this website or would like Pat to contribute to your Blog, Website or Publication, Click Here.

Mike Tomlin Impresses some Diehard Fans

The line began forming presumably before the skies turned a ghastly purple, thunder rumbled and the rain began to pour. By the time Mike Tomlin, the new head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, saw the mass of people gathered around a sign advertising his appearance to sign autographs at the end of a recent practice, he was already drenched with water rolling down the brim of his cap. Up on a hill, the team’s owner, Dan Rooney, sat in an idling car, waiting to talk to his coach.

A team official gently suggested maybe rescheduling for a drier day. Another coach, probably any other coach, would have said yes.

But Tomlin glanced at the throng gathered in a sudden summer monsoon, all of them there for him, and shook his head. “As long as they’ve been waiting . . .” he said softly, letting his words trail off. Then he walked to a small tent at the front of the line, pulled out a black Sharpie pen, said “Hey bro!” to the first child in line. And he signed every mini helmet and Terrible Towel thrust into his hand, posed for pictures with each fan and laughed and shook hands until the crowd was finally exhausted.

Tomlin just gained a ton of respect from many fans including The Steeler Fanatic. Way to go Mike!

Written by Pat Lovell - The Steeler Fanatic
Pat has been following the Pittsburgh Steelers for over 30 years and is known worldwide as "The Steeler Fanatic". If you are interested in contributing to this website or would like Pat to contribute to your Blog, Website or Publication, Click Here.

Steelers Slam the Saints at Canton

The Steelers opened the preseason and the Mike Tomlin era in an impressive fashion with a 20-7 win over the New Orleans Saints.

The Steelers put up 413 yards of offense, while the Saints managed just 214 yards, most of it coming in the second half with reserves in on both sides of the ball. If there were any questions about the Steelers offense coming together with a new coordinator and an updated playbook, they were answered on the opening drive on Sunday night against the Saints.

The Steelers starting offense came out and performed to near perfection on the opening drive. Ben Roethlisberger completed his first pass of the game for 55-yards to Cedrick Wilson. Roethlisberger came back to Wilson for an 18-yard completion to the Saints four-yard line. Wilson, who finished the first half with four catches for 99 yards, had made a plea for getting the ball earlier in the week after practice and his plea must have been heard.

Najeh Davenport, who started the game for Willie Parker, carried the load early and took his third carry of the game into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown to give the Steelers an early 7-0 lead.

Charlie Batch came in on the second drive of the game and played for two series, completing four of six passes for 51 yards and looking solid.

The Steelers managed to put rack up 305 yards in the first half alone, 205 of them in the air and 100 on the ground. Much of the ground attack came from first-year running back Carey Davis, who carried the ball six times for 67 yards in the half, including breaking free and shedding tackles for a 56-yard gain. Davis also had two catches for 32 yards in the half, putting on a good show as he is battling for a roster spot.

It wasn’t just the offense that shone in the first half though. The Steelers defense didn’t allow the Saints first-team offense to put any points on the board, something that they took pride in. The defense was swarming, holding the explosive Saints offense to just 56 yards and two first downs in the first half, and shutting them down 0-6 on third-down conversions.

Written by Pat Lovell - The Steeler Fanatic
Pat has been following the Pittsburgh Steelers for over 30 years and is known worldwide as "The Steeler Fanatic". If you are interested in contributing to this website or would like Pat to contribute to your Blog, Website or Publication, Click Here.

Steelers sign #1 Draft Pick Timmons to a 5 year Deal.

The Steelers announced they have signed their 2007 first-round draft pick, linebacker Lawrence Timmons, to a five-year deal. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Timmons (6-1, 234), out of Florida State, was the 15th overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. Last season as a junior, he started all 13 games for the Seminoles and was named a third-team All-American. Timmons finished second on the team with 79 tackles last year and registered five sacks. He also scored three touchdowns, including one each on an interception return, fumble recovery and blocked punt.

For his career, Timmons finished with 126 tackles (70 solo), eight sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss.

The Steelers also announced they agreed to terms with cornerback William Gay, the team’s second of two fifth-round picks in the 2007 NFL Draft. Gay (5-10, 190), out of Louisville, played in 46 career games for the Cardinals, starting 36. A first-team All-Big East selection in 2006, Gay finished second on the team in tackles and led Louisville with six interceptions.

Written by Pat Lovell - The Steeler Fanatic
Pat has been following the Pittsburgh Steelers for over 30 years and is known worldwide as "The Steeler Fanatic". If you are interested in contributing to this website or would like Pat to contribute to your Blog, Website or Publication, Click Here.

Faneca says This is His Last Season as a Steeler

Longtime star lineman Alan Faneca says he is through negotiating with the Pittsburgh Steelers, pushing them again Friday to trade him and promising he won’t play for them past this season.

Faneca, an All-Pro left guard five times since 2001, reported to a three-day minicamp only because it is mandatory and he could be fined for not attending. He didn’t threaten to sit out the season, but made clear his unhappiness with a team that won the Super Bowl
only 15 months ago.

“This will be my last year as a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Faneca said.

Faneca would like to be traded, but is resigned with staying with Pittsburgh for another season.

“I’ve been asking since February to trade me, to let me go,” Faneca said. “I’ve done my piece. I’ve done my time. I’ve done everything I can for this organization. I’ve lived and breathed
Steeler football for nine years and gave them everything I’ve had and helped them win a Super Bowl. In my mind, I’ve earned the right to be treated fairly.”

Faneca’s criticism is virtually unprecedented for a Steelers player so accomplished — only a handful of players in team history have made All-Pro more than he has.

The Steelers usually re-sign their key players and, thanks greatly to player-friendly owner Dan Rooney, have long been considered the NFL’s model franchise for handling players.

Written by Pat Lovell - The Steeler Fanatic
Pat has been following the Pittsburgh Steelers for over 30 years and is known worldwide as "The Steeler Fanatic". If you are interested in contributing to this website or would like Pat to contribute to your Blog, Website or Publication, Click Here.