Hello Again PatsFans

ClosingTime · Dec 5, 2007

Hey all,
It's been a while since I've been here. (Have a 11-month old daughter now, which has taken up most of my time). But since my Steelers (and me) are coming to Foxboro this weekend I thought I'd drop by, say hello and chat a little about the game.
I really don't know what to expect out of the Steelers for this game, or any game this season. Yes they are 9-3, but have been wildly inconsistent and downright average on the road. They've run the ball extremely well in some games and been inept in others. Their OL has been decent in pass protection in some games and putrid in others. Surprisingly Ben Rothlisberger has been pretty consistent each game and certainly having his best year. With the exception of the Denver game, the defense has been dominant, but I'll give them a mulligan for that one.
But here are a few somewhat random, somewhat inebriated keys to the game...
For the Steelers...
- If Santonio Homes doesn't play I don't see the Steelers winning this game. He's their one recever who can stretch the field. If they can't they become very predictable.
- The running game is a big concern. The Steelers have struggled to run the ball against bad run defenses. The Pats run-D is probably their weak link but not what I would consider bad. The Steelers have to rush for at least 120 and control the time of possession.
- On defense, control Welker. He is the Pats run game. That and the passes out to the flats. I really am not that concerned about Moss. I mean, you have to double him most times, but the Steelrs cover the deep throws extremely well. It's the dink and dunck that can kill a 3-4.

For the Pats...
- Don't load up to stop the run. Despite Pittsburgh's rep, they are not a pound-the-rock running team. Parker is dangerous to hit you for big runs but will not gouge you for 4 yards on a consistent basis. The Steelers are committed to the run, which makes most opponents bring more up into the box and then they exploit that.
- Run the ball. The Pats haven't shown the will or ability to run the ball. The Steelers have to drop 5-6 into coverage and protect the deep ball. If Maroney can get through the front three on delayed draws, he could be a big factor.
- Dink and dunk. Run Moss on deep posts all day long and hit Welker, Watson and the RBs for short gains. Long drives kills the 3-4.

Well that's all for now I suppose. Looking forward to a good game.
Cheers

PonyExpress · Dec 6, 2007

Welcome back Closing Time, I was wondering what happened to you, missed your insightful commentary. Congratulations on the birth of your daughter!

Double G · Dec 6, 2007

Steeler fans take note; Closing Time is one of yours, but unlike 99% of you, is OBJECTIVE.

Try it on for size, though I doubt most of you could pull it off.

Thanks for stopping by CT..............

Disco Volante · Dec 6, 2007

A mature Steelers fan with insightful posts.

I commend you sir.

Brady_12 · Dec 6, 2007

Congrats on the birth of your little girl. Careful, girls get big and feisty very quickly. Nice to see a Steelers fan who actually brings up some valid points about the game.

I think if Pittsburgh commits to the run the Pats are in trouble. Our LBs just seem to have gotten very old very quickly. I hope BB was right and the team is just tired. Should be a great game Sunday.

DonBlackmon55 · Dec 6, 2007

ClosingTime said:
Hey all,
It's been a while since I've been here. (Have a 11-month old daughter now, which has taken up most of my time). But since my Steelers (and me) are coming to Foxboro this weekend I thought I'd drop by, say hello and chat a little about the game.
I really don't know what to expect out of the Steelers for this game, or any game this season. Yes they are 9-3, but have been wildly inconsistent and downright average on the road. They've run the ball extremely well in some games and been inept in others. Their OL has been decent in pass protection in some games and putrid in others. Surprisingly Ben Rothlisberger has been pretty consistent each game and certainly having his best year. With the exception of the Denver game, the defense has been dominant, but I'll give them a mulligan for that one.
But here are a few somewhat random, somewhat inebriated keys to the game...
For the Steelers...
- If Santonio Homes doesn't play I don't see the Steelers winning this game. He's their one recever who can stretch the field. If they can't they become very predictable.
- The running game is a big concern. The Steelers have struggled to run the ball against bad run defenses. The Pats run-D is probably their weak link but not what I would consider bad. The Steelers have to rush for at least 120 and control the time of possession.
- On defense, control Welker. He is the Pats run game. That and the passes out to the flats. I really am not that concerned about Moss. I mean, you have to double him most times, but the Steelrs cover the deep throws extremely well. It's the dink and dunck that can kill a 3-4.

For the Pats...
- Don't load up to stop the run. Despite Pittsburgh's rep, they are not a pound-the-rock running team. Parker is dangerous to hit you for big runs but will not gouge you for 4 yards on a consistent basis. The Steelers are committed to the run, which makes most opponents bring more up into the box and then they exploit that.
- Run the ball. The Pats haven't shown the will or ability to run the ball. The Steelers have to drop 5-6 into coverage and protect the deep ball. If Maroney can get through the front three on delayed draws, he could be a big factor.
- Dink and dunk. Run Moss on deep posts all day long and hit Welker, Watson and the RBs for short gains. Long drives kills the 3-4.

Well that's all for now I suppose. Looking forward to a good game.
Cheers

Two key problems for Steelers
- OL is not as good as it used to be....35 sacks of R'burger
- is Lebeau willing to let DB's hang out by themselves vs Moss, Welker, Stall and Watson speed.......Can't see how you can blitz and cover all. Plus polamalu will be rusty

The fact that Broncos, Jets, and Cardinals have handled you says a lot

ClosingTime · Dec 6, 2007

Thanks all for the well wishes. Fatherhood is exhilirating and excruciating at the same time. And yes, I'll have to start shopping for a shotgun in about 13 years. But until then it's a blast. Back on the ranch...

- yes the OL is not as good as it use to be, but I don't look at the sacks as indicative of that. A lot of those sacks are on Ben. He like to look for the big play and sometimes holds the ball too long. The real concern for me it the lack of push they get in the run attack.

- not that Cincy's pass game is in the same league but the Steelers had little trouble containing their WRs. They'll have to mix it up. I'm sure there will be times when they only rush 3. Other times they will bring the house.

- Yes they loss to a poor Jets team, a medicre Broncos team and a solid Cardinals team, when healthy, and one coached by their former coordinater. But the thing is, with all those teams you have to respect the run. I just don't see any reason teams should respect the Pats running attack. But as I said, that's why I think if the Pats can come out and establish some semblence of a running attack against the Steelers it could be a long afternoon for my team.

DaBruinz · Dec 6, 2007

Closing Time -
Normally, you fall into the category of Troll, but I have to say this is actually a good post from you. I guess fatherhood has mellowed you some.

Anyways.. Here's to a good game where the Refs call it FAIR both ways and NO INJURIES.

bobgeorge · Dec 6, 2007

I wish all opposing fans had these kinds of posts. It's so much more fun to debate with fans who don't trash talk and run smack to the point where it makes them sound stupid. We certainly welcome opposing points of view; if you think your team will beat the Patriots, tell us why and engage us in positive debates. Some of these Steeler fan posts are downright stupid and not worth reading. Not this one!

This reminds me of the few times I have gone on opposing message boards to try and engage debate from them. Some of my feedback was downright deplorable. One time I went on a Dolphin board and brought up a point, and got waylaid because of some article I wrote which brought up a factual point which the Fish fans didn't like. Most of the time when we visit other teams' boards we get name calling for responses instead of intelligent discussion.

Anyway, thanks for this post, hope Roethlisberger plays like January of 2005 and not like October of 2004. He is capable of carving up the Patriots, but we are capable of confusing him and baiting him into mistakes. This game may come down to how well we defense Parker.

Bob G

DaBruinz · Dec 6, 2007

SteelEnema4Brady said:
We beat ourselves in each of the 3 games, perhaps except Arizona whose coach was ours for the past 5 yrs.

Our secondary is fast, Bellicheat said in his presser. We haven't played our best ball yet, we're warming up as the weather gets cold. Pats seem to be getting tired and lazy and out of synch in December, not the time to do so. I think Colvin being on IR hurts more than what is beind admitted. Our Defense is getting better and have been #1 or near # 1 all season, schedule or not, it's what the NFL gave us last season after and 8-8 record.

OH boy.. Why are you here, troll? Do you get same obscene joy at drawing negative attention to yourself by posting idiocy and stupidity?

The Pats have faced 2 very tough defenses in the Eagles and Ravens. Anyone with half a brain knows that.

The Pats miss Colvin. No one denied that. To say that we miss him MORE than expected is pathetic considering that there's just been one game and McGahee is a damn good back with a damn good O-line in front of him that plays extremely consistent in the running game.

If you think that the Pats are getting lazy, I have news for you. Smith gave them all the ammunition they need to trounce the Steelers. Moron should have kept his mouth shut. You clearly followed Smith's lead.

Steel74 · Dec 6, 2007

Most fan sites degenerate into food fights even when all the fans are for the same team. So much for football being a thinking man's game.

Anyway, Pittsburgh will try to do what almost every team tries to do when playing a quick-strike O like New England's: keep them off the field. If we can do that, convert a high percentage of 3rd downs and score TD's not field goals, we'll be in good shape.

NESN's own analyst said it himself: New England's D is older, which around this time of year means they wear down quicker and recover slower. ****, Bellichek said it too.

Everyone on ESPN talks about a "blueprint" for beating New England. Usually their analysts have focused on throwing deep middle passes. Watching the Pats' D get pushed down the field by Baltimore, I said, what if the blueprint is that their defense is just getting worn down.

It happens.

Joker · Dec 6, 2007

3 consecutive 3 and out by the Ravens in the 4th quarter say hi...

keep polishing that turd though...

Steel74 · Dec 6, 2007

Touchy.

If it's a turd, it's one your head coach and a few members of the Boston sports media are passing around.

ClosingTime · Dec 6, 2007

Well let's be honest. Holding Boller and the Ravens to 3 three and outs is no great feat. The fact is, no one would have bet the Raven would have scored over 20 points in that game,or any game for that matter.

Joker · Dec 6, 2007

the point is,,Moron 1 and Moron 2 said the Pats are old and wear down late in games...I just pointed out the reality to their complete and utter ignorance. Maybe they meant they wear out in the first 3 quarters and then make their opponents wear their azz for a hat...who really knows what goes on in the minds of these schizos.

Steel74 · Dec 6, 2007

Nice. Busting out the "Midnight Run" shtick. Why not, it's a great movie.

I'm not sure which moron I'm supposed to be, but I did not say New England's defense is old and is wearing down, the crew of MNF said it, then Bill Bellichek said it on Boston sports radio, though not in so many words, then the New England Sports Network said it.

And you're right, Closing Time, that was going to be my other rejoinder to Dennis Farina over here, but I wanted to see if I would get a serious response to my question. No luck, obviously.

But yeah, Kyle Boller has had a couple of games in the NFL where the warmth of his ass is overridden by the smell, and so he pulls his head out of it and plays lights out and you can see why someone might have thought about drafting him in the 1st round. Monday night was one of those games, with a couple of exceptions.

And then he goes back to being Kyle Boller.

atlpatsfan · Dec 6, 2007

ClosingTime said:
I just don't see any reason teams should respect the Pats running attack.

I keep seeing comments like this all over our board. Why do people keep saying that we don't have a running game? Just because we don't have one back that gets a ton of yard from for us doesn't mean as a team we have no running game. We are currently ranked 8th in the league for run offense and we only have about 200 yards less that Pittsburgh.

ClevTrev · Dec 6, 2007

Steel74 said:
Everyone on ESPN talks about a "blueprint" for beating New England. Usually their analysts have focused on throwing deep middle passes. Watching the Pats' D get pushed down the field by Baltimore, I said, what if the blueprint is that their defense is just getting worn down.

Once again, a post attributing all perceived problems to the Patriots and giving zero credit to some worthy opponents who played great games. Think what you want . . . .

shmessy · Dec 6, 2007

Steel74 said:
Nice. Busting out the "Midnight Run" shtick. Why not, it's a great movie.

I'm not sure which moron I'm supposed to be, but I did not say New England's defense is old and is wearing down, the crew of MNF said it, then Bill Bellichek said it on Boston sports radio, though not in so many words, then the New England Sports Network said it.

And you're right, Closing Time, that was going to be my other rejoinder to Dennis Farina over here, but I wanted to see if I would get a serious response to my question. No luck, obviously.

But yeah, Kyle Boller has had a couple of games in the NFL where the warmth of his ass is overridden by the smell, and so he pulls his head out of it and plays lights out and you can see why someone might have thought about drafting him in the 1st round. Monday night was one of those games, with a couple of exceptions.

And then he goes back to being Kyle Boller.

I'm holding off giving him an infraction for that because I'm not convinced Joker was referring to you and Closing Time, but perhaps to the two main originators in the media about the "Old" thing.

If he was referring to you, then it's a board infraction. You and CT have not been talking smack and your perspective is appreciated.

ClosingTime · Dec 6, 2007

Well, I guess there goes my attempt at having some civil debate.

I didn't see the Pats D wear down late against the Colts or Cowboys, but again those are passing teams I suppose. In most other games how the D played in the 4th was irrelevent.
But they did get pushed around by an average OL, which is surprising. I guess I am not surprised that their LB corps, which, outside of Thomas, is smallish to begin with and getting a little long in the tooth. But what surprised me was that their front three of Seymour, Wilfork, Ty Warren/J. Green, got handled.
But I haven't seen this before and I don't think once is a trend. I think the Pats make this gameplan impossible most times by scoring early and often so teams can't continue to run the ball.

It is strange to think that the run-D is the weakness of the Pats. And the run-O is downright inept (don't get sensitive, it's just an adjective). So for as impressive as the Pats have been on offense, and I hate to admit it they have been as dominant as I have seen since the Rams, I just have never seen a team that struggle to run the ball and stop the run do well in the playoffs.

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