Jopa-n

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Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

Bill, I hope your right about Limas. Right now his route tree consists of Go route and deep slant. He seems kinda gawky when he has to do a curl route or go low for the ball. I think he was spoiled a little at Texas because he did not need to have an arsenal of moves. It's like the difference between Hines Ward and Limas- Hines is a football player that plays rec. Limas is currently an exceptional athlete who wants to be a pro football player. Remember Renaldo Nehamiah (sp)? Great athlete who wanted to be a football player. Let's pray that's not what Limas is.  (19 hrs ago | post #4374)

Sports

Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

How bout a 3rd round pick WR gaining steam each week in becoming a viable weapon for an already star heavy offense? Look what was in front of Mike Wallace when the season started as far as star power: Hines Ward- future hall a famer and SB MVP- Santonio Holmes- 1st rd draft pick and SB MVP- Heath Miller- 1st round draft pick and arguably the best all around and most intelligent TE in the game today- Limas Sweed- 2nd round draft choice out of Texas with Plaxico Burress size and speed- Shaun McDonald- good, experienced FA pick up with sure hands. All the (incorrectly) unhearlded rookie Wallace did was vault past Sweed and McDonald from the get go, become a reliable playmaking rec. amongst a super talented group of polished NFL pass catchers, and become more of an option for Ben to look for by the week. Combine that with knowing That the more he contributes, the more attention he'll get, the more potent he makes the stars around him, and there is nothing but greater success for the passing and running game.  (Wednesday | post #4372)

Sports

Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

The defense played a relentless game against Denver all night long. LeBeau gets to add another masterpiece to the video library. He maxes out all of Troy's super impressive skills and is puting players in agressive positions to make game changing plays. Altering the line formations has given Brett Keisel the space he needs to be able to get leverage and surge upfield the way he did back in 05.  (Wednesday | post #4371)

Sports

Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

When it comes to how accurate Ben is outside the pocket and on the run, he makes one point of delivery alway a constant: He stays squared up to his target. Most QB's on the run do just that- they run, then they look, then they run more if they have to. They turn away from the line and when they look down field, many times the only thing that is directly at the target is their eyes, thus, passes that are off target occur often. Ben is so used to throwing on the run, he's made the delivery a habit. He darts out of the pocket, he squares up his eyes, shoulders and torso to the line of scrimmage. As he scans, he slides his feet- now making sure to stay in a ready launch position. He sees the target as he's moving and squares up to the target- he launches the pass with a strong follow through. You can see Ben fully understands by his deliberate actions, that when your feet cannot aide you in reaching the target, you must be absolutely impeccable on every other detail- sight, upper body, and follow through. That's why he does it better than anybody else.  (Wednesday | post #4370)

Sports

Mike Tomlin shows he was the Steelers' right man all along

Not saying anyone has the right to ignore state laws nor not abide by them. What I am saying is that if, as you indicate, this part of the NFL contract is not valid in the state of Minnesota, then the entire contract is not valid with the players who work in the state, therefore, players who play in Minnesota do not have a contract to perform in the NFL. As crazy as it sounds, imagine if all states make their own laws, so that the players or owners in their states do not have to abide by the NFL contract, whenever it does not benefit them. The NFL is the business owner here. Not the state of Minnesota. Not even Vikings ownership in reality. When you own a football team, you essentially rent the team from the league. That's why the contract about illegal drug use is made by the players assoc. with the league. If the state of Minnesota feels they should supercede the NFL contact, which is their right, then the NFL needs to go to a state that respects their contract with the players.  (Monday Nov 9 | post #138)

Sports

Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

A lot of talk on the Mike & Mike show this morn. about the choice of Coughlin to play it close to the vest inside the 15 and take a FG, only to give a TD to SD on the final drive. Greeny, livid the Giants did not go for the throat, feels it's a no brainer to take some shots at the endzone. Chris Carter, brought up a good point though. After a holding penalty, combined with the game to that point played by the Giant's defense, was such that you knew it could be dangerous to throw into sure tight coverage, risking coming away with nothing, where the FG atleast allowed a demand for SD to score a TD. IMO, they are both right. I say you play to win, as always, just give it a more legit effort than two runs up the gut. Throw short and safe but give the rec., whomever, a chance to run it in from the 3-5 after the catch. Respect the defense and what they will do flooding the enzone, but give a good rec. or RB a chance to catch and run.  (Monday Nov 9 | post #4354)

Sports

Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

Saw something yesterday in the college games that epitomizes what big play passing is all about. Isolating the deep saftey in an 'either-or' scenerio. The play that made me think of this was seeing two rec.s lined up by the numbers and slot- the deep saftey moves over to take the deep man. The defenders in zone coverage underneath 'think' they have deep help. The slot man runs up and slants towards the post, the rec. on the outside runs pure go, then breaks off towards the pylon. The single deep defender picks his poison, usually the man that get the deepest the quickest. the QB, in turn, watches the saftey. whichever way he goes, the QB knows he's got a deep rec. open the other way. Talented rec.s + QB with a howitzer = 6 pts.  (Sunday Nov 8 | post #4353)

Sports

Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

I wish we had an automatic editor or something. Please take out the words 'have the' in the last sentence of the previous post. Excuse me but I'm really lazy on sunday morn.  (Sunday Nov 8 | post #4352)

Sports

Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

Gene Collier of the Post Gazette is back with a good Steeler article (as it should be), talking about what is at stake and what is of concern going into a huge Monday night blood bath. Hopefully for the Steelers, Tomlin has been throwing chum in the water all week to have the get the sharks ready to feed on Monday.  (Sunday Nov 8 | post #4351)

Sports

Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

It's time to say, "May the REAL #92, please stand up!" Yes Elvis will be in the building, but it's time to show: "You don't tug on superman's cape, you dont spit into the wind, you don't pull, the mask off the ol' long ranger, and you don't mess around with (James)."  (Sunday Nov 8 | post #4350)

Sports

Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

With Smith and Kirschke and Clark AND Timmons out for the game in Denver, I'm getting a little nervous about the defense for this game.  (Saturday Nov 7 | post #4349)

Sports

Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

Watching some footage of the Patriots passing attack really makes me shake my head and say WOW! Whatever you think of them, good or bad, they really know how to stress vertical coverage. Saw a play where one rec. runs a deep slant, one runs a deep post, both pulling the coverage down the center and left seam, while the 3rd rec., runs a hard crossing route from left to right, 3 yards past the line of scrimmage. Brady hits the very short cross in step and the rec. gets the corner in full stride and flies down the sideline for a 54 yard TD. Man! They mostly only run 3 rec.s out in coverage with 7 man protections, but they set up the defense by running killer crosses, and then, pull the coverage in to try and jump the short routes, only to get burned on a go route. I hope the Steelers coaches take time to see just how well they maximize the length and width of the field. The Steelers have more than comparable talent to exploit defenses in the same manner. Ben could feast on defenses with this type of detail in pulling defenders back and fourth all game long.  (Friday Nov 6 | post #4346)

Sports

Mike Tomlin shows he was the Steelers' right man all along

How can state employment laws take precedence over a company or institution that operates on a national level? Each team in the NFL is not a private company. The Players have a formal agreement and contract with the National Football League. Not with the Minnesota Vikings, not with any entity in Minnesota. They were not forced to sign the contract, nor should they be able to declare the contact void in certain states. By what your saying, Players who play in Minnesota should not be able to participate in the National Football League. Then, and only then, can any state law argument be made. You can not pick and choose what parts of the contract you will adhere too and which you won't, and still have a valid contract. If certain players do not have to follow the contract because of what state they play in, then the NFL does not, or atleast should not, have to operate under the rules of the contract with those players.  (Wednesday Nov 4 | post #135)

Sports

Mike Tomlin shows he was the Steelers' right man all along

How does outwardly declaring drug enhanced performance illegal and simply expecting all players to compete on the same level sound like being above the law. Every player is told what they can and can't do, equal to all. It's like saying your employer can't demand a drug free work place because it violates your rights to break the law. It's his workplace and if you don't like it, you don't have to work for him. Just like if an athlete feels he's needs to use illegal drug enhancers, find a sport that will allow him to use them. You have no case here. The only reason the Minnesota courts are doing this is because they don't care if the players cheat, as long as they play in Minnesota and it gives their team a chance to win. It's disgusting to promote illegal drug use through the courts.  (Tuesday Nov 3 | post #133)

Sports

Tomlin knows what the Steelers need

Ron Cook of the Post Gazette has a 'must see' column today. He talks about the methods the Ravens used to counter the Bronco success. The Steelers, who play much the same way on D when LeBeau wants to press an offense at the seams, are very good at forcing the issue as well. The no huddle Cook points out, used by the Ravens in the 2nd half, should be over 30% of the Steeler offense against anybody IMO. Ben thrives when the offense dictates to the defense.  (Tuesday Nov 3 | post #4333)