Craic
10-28-2012, 07:32 PM
Once is a mistake, twice a coincidence, three times is a pattern.
Oh Lord, let us see it become a pattern. "It" is the type of game that was played today, comprised of many pieces that made the whole.
The first piece that deserves mention is the run game. For the first time since "Fast" Willie Parker was on this team, a running back has put up two one-hundred-yard games in a row. The credit should go three places. First, it goes to the coaches for being patient and letting the team and the line come together despite injuries. Whether it is the O-line coach or the Offensive Coordinator, run blocking schemes that suit the running back have opened up holes that are then being exploited by Jonathon Dwyer.
The second place to credit for the run game the offensive line. Through the first five games, this line had little nastiness to it. Their pass-blocking had improved (not to mention the shortened drop-backs helping), but the ability to get off the ball and either drive their guy forward, or drive him at an angle/sideways in a zone block was negligible at best. Then comes Willie colon, enter, stage Left Guard. Struggling in the first half of the year with the position switch, everything looked like it began to click against the Bengals. That's not to say he did not have his problems (allowing 1.5 sacks and pressure on the QB), but something clicked - or maybe the motor fans are used to seeing clicked on, and the rest of the offensive line noticed, and responded.
In today's game, the line allowed one sack while provided the work up front to spring their running backs for 140 yards on the ground in twenty-seven attempts for an average of 5.2 yards a carry. More important, take a gander at the first downs. This week there were seven rushing first downs and ten rushing first downs last week. While that may not seem like a lot, consider the prior weeks. Against the Titans, the Steelers run game racked up a total of three first downs. The week before that, with Rashard Mendenhall (the number one running back on the depth chart) the Steelers only managed six first downs. There were four running first downs in Oakland, five against the Jets, and two against Denver. That stat alone shows the running game has improved tremendously, and did so this week again against a team that is number eight against the run.
The third place to credit the run game, obviously, is the running back who has racked up the yards over the last two weeks. Jonathon Dwyer is a running back that was passed over by many teams because of a failed drug test during the draft season. Unbeknownst to most, however, the amphetamines in his system were prescribed for A.D.D. by a doctor. After what has to be a disappointing draft, Dwyer saw little playing time in his first two seasons (twenty-five attempts for 151 yards over that period of time, have of which came on a seventy-six yard run in 2011). This year however, he has almost doubled the load and is one yard short of three hundred for the season. The two players that spell him at running back currently, Rainey and Batch, have a good upside. But they're listed at number four and five on the running back depth chart. "Deep" has taken on a whole new meaning.
The next piece that deserves mention is the offensive line. Everything said above applies, but there are a couple other elements to point out. Mike Adams is putting together a good run at right tackle. Last year, Marcus Gilbert took over this position, playing in fourteen games with seven sacks allowed and fourteen penalties. This year, Adams has five games under his belt, with 2.5 sacks allowed and one penalty. While that projects to being close to Gilbert's numbers, Adams has allowed one sack in the two games he has started. Furthermore, he is capable of sealing the end on outside run plays to spring Dwyer loose. Moving inside, DeCastro is still recovering from surgery, which leaves a surprisingly improved Ramon Foster at the Guard position. This year, he has allowed one sack and has one false start penalty. His name is seldom if ever mentioned this year, and that means he is doing his job. Of course, Pouncey and Starks are professionals that need no discussion here, which leaves the aforementioned Willie Colon. Twice now, in two games, Willie Colon has taken completely control of a player and driven them to the ground. His violence, as someone else has put it, has been responded to by the rest of the line. The result, is the best line play in a two game stint since the 2005 Superbowl offensive line through the playoffs.
For yet a third piece that makes the whole of Steelers that have been taking the field lately, it is time to cross to the defensive side of the ball. The first thing that stands out over the last two weeks, is that the defensive backs have learned how to hit hard without going to the head, and it shows. Numerous passes were dislodged in today's game by jarring hits and tackles. Ryan Clark laid a lick on RGIII that he'll be feeling tomorrow morning when he wakes up, and a flag was thrown on the play. The infraction? Offensive interference. Clark hit him cleanly, extending with the arms to separate RGIII from the ball had he caught it.
Those hard hits lead to a second player in the secondary that has come of age over the last two weeks. Keenan Lewis has broken up passes by both positioning, and by closing and hitting. This afternoon, on a throw to the endzone, Lewis was falling to the ground, yet managed to keep with the play, dislodging what would have a touchdown pass from the arms of the Aldrick Robinson.
A fourth piece is the defensive line that has stepped up their game. In the last two games, Ziggy Wood has a tackle and five assists for a total of six tackles, two blocked passes, and a blocked extra point. That almost matches his output for the first four games combined (eight total tackles, seven tackles, one assist and a sack). Brett Keisel has been consistent over the last three games, with seven total tackles (three solo and four assists), after a quiet three out of the first four games. Casey Hampton started the with five tackles in the first two games, and then had one assist over the next three games. These last two games he has one tackle (that went for a loss) and one assist. Yet, these stats don't tell the whole story. Washington came into this game today ranked first in the run. Today, they didn't break one hundred yards (eight-six on twenty-one attempts). That comes after allowing only eighty yards to Ben-Jarvis Green-Ellis and company the week before. The defensive line is stepping up its game.
Of course, the passing game, the wide receivers as a unit, and the TE's are still going strong. But Ben Roethlisburger looks to have taken the final step in his development not only as a Quarterback, but as a team leader. After a meeting with his offense before the game with Cincinnati where he informed them that they needed to step up in the fourth quarter, the Steelers offense held the ball for over ten minutes in the fourth quarter against the Bengals, with three change of possessions (one coming after a touchdown at the beginning of the quarter), the last two deep with in the Bengal's territory In the game today against the Redskins, the Steelers got the ball with 12:06 left on the clock, and took over half that time off the clock, moving the ball enough to bury the Redskins deep in their end.
What should be remembered however, are the pieces that are still under/not performing. Troy Polamalu is on the bench. James Harrison is playing, but still not up to form (knee surgery) and Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman are still out with injury (Achilles and Ankle, respectively). If these pieces can be added to the puzzle that the Steelers are fast becoming for opposing coaches, that 2-3 start will be long forgotten as wins stack up during the icy wind-filled and bone-chilling days of December and January in the Burgh.
If once is a mistake, and twice is a coincidence, can the Steelers put together three good games in a row? Can the pieces mentioned above continue to be molded together? Will we see the emergence of a pattern next week?
There is no reason to think we won't.
________
Just decided I'd post differently this time. Hope you all enjoyed it.
Oh Lord, let us see it become a pattern. "It" is the type of game that was played today, comprised of many pieces that made the whole.
The first piece that deserves mention is the run game. For the first time since "Fast" Willie Parker was on this team, a running back has put up two one-hundred-yard games in a row. The credit should go three places. First, it goes to the coaches for being patient and letting the team and the line come together despite injuries. Whether it is the O-line coach or the Offensive Coordinator, run blocking schemes that suit the running back have opened up holes that are then being exploited by Jonathon Dwyer.
The second place to credit for the run game the offensive line. Through the first five games, this line had little nastiness to it. Their pass-blocking had improved (not to mention the shortened drop-backs helping), but the ability to get off the ball and either drive their guy forward, or drive him at an angle/sideways in a zone block was negligible at best. Then comes Willie colon, enter, stage Left Guard. Struggling in the first half of the year with the position switch, everything looked like it began to click against the Bengals. That's not to say he did not have his problems (allowing 1.5 sacks and pressure on the QB), but something clicked - or maybe the motor fans are used to seeing clicked on, and the rest of the offensive line noticed, and responded.
In today's game, the line allowed one sack while provided the work up front to spring their running backs for 140 yards on the ground in twenty-seven attempts for an average of 5.2 yards a carry. More important, take a gander at the first downs. This week there were seven rushing first downs and ten rushing first downs last week. While that may not seem like a lot, consider the prior weeks. Against the Titans, the Steelers run game racked up a total of three first downs. The week before that, with Rashard Mendenhall (the number one running back on the depth chart) the Steelers only managed six first downs. There were four running first downs in Oakland, five against the Jets, and two against Denver. That stat alone shows the running game has improved tremendously, and did so this week again against a team that is number eight against the run.
The third place to credit the run game, obviously, is the running back who has racked up the yards over the last two weeks. Jonathon Dwyer is a running back that was passed over by many teams because of a failed drug test during the draft season. Unbeknownst to most, however, the amphetamines in his system were prescribed for A.D.D. by a doctor. After what has to be a disappointing draft, Dwyer saw little playing time in his first two seasons (twenty-five attempts for 151 yards over that period of time, have of which came on a seventy-six yard run in 2011). This year however, he has almost doubled the load and is one yard short of three hundred for the season. The two players that spell him at running back currently, Rainey and Batch, have a good upside. But they're listed at number four and five on the running back depth chart. "Deep" has taken on a whole new meaning.
The next piece that deserves mention is the offensive line. Everything said above applies, but there are a couple other elements to point out. Mike Adams is putting together a good run at right tackle. Last year, Marcus Gilbert took over this position, playing in fourteen games with seven sacks allowed and fourteen penalties. This year, Adams has five games under his belt, with 2.5 sacks allowed and one penalty. While that projects to being close to Gilbert's numbers, Adams has allowed one sack in the two games he has started. Furthermore, he is capable of sealing the end on outside run plays to spring Dwyer loose. Moving inside, DeCastro is still recovering from surgery, which leaves a surprisingly improved Ramon Foster at the Guard position. This year, he has allowed one sack and has one false start penalty. His name is seldom if ever mentioned this year, and that means he is doing his job. Of course, Pouncey and Starks are professionals that need no discussion here, which leaves the aforementioned Willie Colon. Twice now, in two games, Willie Colon has taken completely control of a player and driven them to the ground. His violence, as someone else has put it, has been responded to by the rest of the line. The result, is the best line play in a two game stint since the 2005 Superbowl offensive line through the playoffs.
For yet a third piece that makes the whole of Steelers that have been taking the field lately, it is time to cross to the defensive side of the ball. The first thing that stands out over the last two weeks, is that the defensive backs have learned how to hit hard without going to the head, and it shows. Numerous passes were dislodged in today's game by jarring hits and tackles. Ryan Clark laid a lick on RGIII that he'll be feeling tomorrow morning when he wakes up, and a flag was thrown on the play. The infraction? Offensive interference. Clark hit him cleanly, extending with the arms to separate RGIII from the ball had he caught it.
Those hard hits lead to a second player in the secondary that has come of age over the last two weeks. Keenan Lewis has broken up passes by both positioning, and by closing and hitting. This afternoon, on a throw to the endzone, Lewis was falling to the ground, yet managed to keep with the play, dislodging what would have a touchdown pass from the arms of the Aldrick Robinson.
A fourth piece is the defensive line that has stepped up their game. In the last two games, Ziggy Wood has a tackle and five assists for a total of six tackles, two blocked passes, and a blocked extra point. That almost matches his output for the first four games combined (eight total tackles, seven tackles, one assist and a sack). Brett Keisel has been consistent over the last three games, with seven total tackles (three solo and four assists), after a quiet three out of the first four games. Casey Hampton started the with five tackles in the first two games, and then had one assist over the next three games. These last two games he has one tackle (that went for a loss) and one assist. Yet, these stats don't tell the whole story. Washington came into this game today ranked first in the run. Today, they didn't break one hundred yards (eight-six on twenty-one attempts). That comes after allowing only eighty yards to Ben-Jarvis Green-Ellis and company the week before. The defensive line is stepping up its game.
Of course, the passing game, the wide receivers as a unit, and the TE's are still going strong. But Ben Roethlisburger looks to have taken the final step in his development not only as a Quarterback, but as a team leader. After a meeting with his offense before the game with Cincinnati where he informed them that they needed to step up in the fourth quarter, the Steelers offense held the ball for over ten minutes in the fourth quarter against the Bengals, with three change of possessions (one coming after a touchdown at the beginning of the quarter), the last two deep with in the Bengal's territory In the game today against the Redskins, the Steelers got the ball with 12:06 left on the clock, and took over half that time off the clock, moving the ball enough to bury the Redskins deep in their end.
What should be remembered however, are the pieces that are still under/not performing. Troy Polamalu is on the bench. James Harrison is playing, but still not up to form (knee surgery) and Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman are still out with injury (Achilles and Ankle, respectively). If these pieces can be added to the puzzle that the Steelers are fast becoming for opposing coaches, that 2-3 start will be long forgotten as wins stack up during the icy wind-filled and bone-chilling days of December and January in the Burgh.
If once is a mistake, and twice is a coincidence, can the Steelers put together three good games in a row? Can the pieces mentioned above continue to be molded together? Will we see the emergence of a pattern next week?
There is no reason to think we won't.
________
Just decided I'd post differently this time. Hope you all enjoyed it.