Enigma869 wrote:Ehwmatt wrote: But are they really playing much differently from last year?
Without Polamalu on the field...YES! The guy is that good. Listen, Pittsburgh isn't that great of an offensive team and never have been. The Super Bowls they won in the 70's with Bradshaw were some of the worst offensive teams to win super bowls. People know the names of Bradshaw, Swann, Stallworth, and Harris, but when you look at their numbers, they simply don't come close to comparing with the great offensive players in NFL history. The Steelers teams of the past 10 years really aren't any different. Their running game is a disaster and Roethlisberger is a good NFL QB, but not great. Pittsburgh has ALWAYS won on defense and they always will. I suspect when Polamalu gets back, their defense will tighten up in a HUGE way! That said,
Harrison doesn't look like the dominant player he was last season, so I think they'll be a VERY beatable team. After watching the Colts last night, I suspect they'd beat Pittsburgh by about 3 touchdowns!
James Harrison is the epitome of unblockable. I wouldn't say he is off to a slow start, but when comparing this years sacks to last year, there are obvious concerns, but not judging by the way he plays the position. I watch a lot of players on Defense when the Steelers play, and Harrison is one of them I look at closely. On almost every play, the man is mauled and calling it holding wouldn't serve the term justice. Noone can block him one on one, holding can be called every play, but when it's so blatant then there's a problem. Harrison is a beast in the offseason and works like a gorilla to perform. To deny him his ablility is one thing, but not calling many penalties against him is dis-heartening for a player of his caliber. At least call it at times. Benefiting an offensive lineman of getting away with illegal tactics such as holding and for a defenseman working his ass off every play and not getting at least some calls is not right, and the league already apologized for it. What are you gonna do though.. judgment is judgment.
Another reason is that he's taking on double teams practically all game. This should free up other positions to get a lane to the quarterback, which is happening but they can't finish since every QB we faced so far is getting rid of the ball fairly quickly to the underneath receivers, something that is exploited and needs to be addressed, even though that's what the Steelers want to give up.
You're right, obviously the Steelers defense is a tad bit behind without Troy in the lineup since certain packages are built around him and him alone. The Steelers defense is dominant through 3 quarters, but the 4th quarter they seem to be suspect and back off. They aren't losing because Troy isn't in the lineup. I don't like it and they need to get it fixed before we slump in a 1-3 hole. All 3 games were decided by 3
points in which the Steelers blew. (Jeff Reed has missed in every game we lost.) We are on the doorstep but just can't find a way to put the foot on the gas and finish, thus, 1-2. The Steelers are still a good team that will contend, they just need to find their killer instinct that we owned a year ago.
One of my favorite quotes is.. "It is what is it."