Nearly one month after failing to win there record seventh Super Bowl; Pittsburgh Steelers fans are still trying to figure out what went wrong! The Steelers lost a tight game but the outcome could have been much different. The Steelers have no one to blame but their coach Mike Tomlin and their quarterback Ben Rothlisberger. Coach Tomlin’s decision to run 23 times and pass 40 was mind-blowing. Rashard Mendenhall was gashing the Green Bay Packers with big runs that were wearing down the defensive line and giving the Steelers momentum during their comeback. But in the end Tomlin leaned on his quarterback and Rothlisberger failed him.
Rothlisberger’s two interceptions that lead to 14 Packer points was the difference in the game, but it was more then the interceptions that killed the Steelers it was the bad decision making of Rothlisberger that did them in. All you have to do is fast forward to the last drive of the game, the Steelers were down six with two minutes left and Rothlisberger seemed poised to pull of another super miracle. However the last three plays you would think a rookie quarterback was in the game. On 2nd and 5 Rothlisberger called a play for wide receiver Mike Wallace who clearly had no idea what the play was, Rothlisberger threw the pass out of bounds leading to a 3rd and 5. Again big Ben called Wallace’s number and again the wide receiver seemed lost on the route leading to another incomplete pass leading to 4th and 5. This whole time never once did Rothlisberger look to veteran wide receiver Hinds Ward who is one of the best route runners in the NFL. So on 4th and 5 big Ben called Wallace’s number and to all Packer fans delight Wallace was lost on the route and the Super Bowl was lost for the Steelers.
This should be an interesting year for the men in black and yellow. Big Ben Roethlisberger is gone for the first four games as opposed to six. Byron Leftwich, who was supposed to be the back-up, injured himself. So that leaves the young Dennis Dixon to start for the Steelers. Dixon is a quick, but raw quarterback. The Steelers knew what they were getting in Roethlisberger, but with Dixon anything goes.
I love Coach Mike Tomlin saying the quarterback position is still up for grabs once Ben comes back. Bull. Do you honestly believe Dixon will be a consistently productive quarterback? At best the Steelers go 3-1 during Ben’s absence, and that’s a stretch.
The Steelers will most assuredly get back to their trademark running game, especially with Dixon at the helm. Rashard Mendenhall had a good year last year, but one wonders how effective he will be this year as the Steelers don’t have a legitimate passing threat. They could become predictable. Hines Ward, Antwaan Randle El, Heath Miller, and Mike Wallace will have to step up their games this year to make Dixon’s job easier in the absence of Santanio Holmes bolting for the Jets.
Defense should be tops in the league once more for this talented group consisting of Lamarr Woodley, James Harrison, James Farrior, Troy Palamalu, and Ike Taylor to name a few. They were third in rushing yards allowed last year. Expect that to continue.
Overall, the gauge of success for this team will be defined by how well Dixon handles his time in the spotlight and how Big Ben fares in his return. I still think the division is too formidable for this year’s Steelers. They will finish third in the AFC North at 9-7.
By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network
Hines Ward apologized to his teammates today after talking with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at length for his NBC-TV interview he said was misinterpreted.
“We talked. I’m not going to get into what was specifically said,” Ward said at lunchtime in front of his locker. “The issue’s been resolved.
“I apologized to the team today for having to even answer questions about this. We’ve moved on and getting ready for Oakland.”
The preparations for this season opened up on the first night of training camp when Roethlisberger himself apologized to teammates for getting sued in civil court. He said he did not want it to become a distraction for the Super Bowl champs.
Ward sparked a new debate this week about concussions in football after an interview with NBC-TV on Roethlisberger’s late scratch from Sunday’s game in Baltimore because of lingering effects from a concussion the previous week.
Click here to read the full article – By Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers Mens Appareland other
Steelers Apparel
