Keisel's Play Gaining Notice for Steelers

Taken in the seventh round of the 2002 draft out of BYU, Keisel at the time wondered if the Pittsburgh Steelers would groom him to play outside linebacker. The franchise has built a consistently dominant defense over the years partially based upon converting pass-rushing college defensive ends into All Pro-caliber outside linebackers.

Pittsburgh elected to keep the 6-foot-5, 285-pound Keisel on the line — a position that, in Dick LeBeau's 3-4 scheme, isn't as glamorous.

While linebackers such as James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley rack up sacks, the job description for ends Keisel and Aaron Smith is more anonymous. Keisel's teammates recognize and appreciate his work, even if few others do.

Off one of his best games, Keisel is earning more respect as one of the key cogs of what is the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense.

"He's one of the best out there," Pittsburgh defensive end Ziggy Hood said. "He's a very under-the-radar guy who makes a lot of big splash plays. It's not even the big plays that make you go, 'Wow,' it's the other things that he does that catch your attention if you're watching the tape. That's something I idolize in him."

It wasn't until Keisel grew his now-trademark beard that outsiders began to take notice. It's likely a coincidence Keisel was named to his first Pro Bowl last season as his busy facial hair grew so long it made him one of the stars of the week leading up to the Super Bowl. But "Da Beard," as Keisel calls it, has brought the 33-year-old more acclaim and popularity than years of swallowing up blockers and dozens of batted-down passes ever could.

Keisel tied a career high with two sacks among his season-high six tackles and batted down a Blaine Gabbert pass in a 17-13 win over Jacksonville this past Sunday.

"Brett's had a lot of great games for us," LeBeau said. "That was one of his better games. He's one of the guys that I kind of count on being there every week, and he's going to play well every week. He was a little more evident with some of the plays that he made in the game, but week in and week out, he's usually where he's supposed to be."

The Steelers (4-2) play at Arizona (1-4) on Sunday.

Since LeBeau first was defensive coordinator in 1994, the Steelers have had six outside linebackers named All Pro — and no defensive linemen.

For a player who's been with a high-profile franchise for 10 years and is in his sixth season starting on a defense that's been No. 1 in the league three times in that span, Keisel's beard is more known than he is. Not only does "Da Beard" have its own official T-shirt, Twitter account, Facebook page and web site, it's public shaving earned money for charity after the Super Bowl in February.

"I'm glad he grew his beard because it's actually allowed him to get some notoriety and recognition," safety Ryan Clark said. "As a 3-4 defensive end, when you have LaMarr and James on the outside, everything has to go by the guys inside. These guys are critical in stopping the run and keeping our linebackers clean. And what Brett has been doing for this team year in and year out is amazing, and we're just excited he's finally getting recognized for it."

Keisel has been noticeable this season because of how much better the defense has performed since he returned from missing two games with a knee sprain. His tip of a Matt Hasselbeck pass Oct. 9, for example, led to a Woodley interception that helped put that game away.

A former high school basketball star, Keisel is athletic enough that the Steelers have, at times, utilized him like they do Troy Polamalu, something of a freelancer who can drop into pass coverage and/or move around the field — no small feat for a 285-pound lineman.

"He's probably as good an athlete as I've ever seen at defensive end in terms of running, jumping, hand-eye coordination," LeBeau said. "We've talked for years that he could be a linebacker, but (defensive line coach John Mitchell) won't let us touch him."

Told that, Keisel laughed. Who knows? If Keisel had been put at linebacker, maybe he'd be the one — and not, say, Harrison — registering sacks, earning multiple Pro Bowl starts, getting league Defensive Player of the Year votes.

"It's tough to be a scheme like this," Keisel said. "You have to be unselfish. That's the first thing they preach when you come in here as a young guy: 'We don't expect you to make a lot of plays. We expect you to go your job, to hold the point of attack, to keep a couple guys on you and free up our linebackers.'

"That's how it's always been here. We kind of relish that. We'll take LaMarr and James being the great players they are ... and winning Super Bowls. That's what matters to us, is winning."

But winning two Super Bowl rings didn't get Keisel the endorsement deals. "Da Beard," however, has. Keisel — and some exaggerated facial hair — appear in a shampoo commercial along with Polamalu and his celebrated hair.

Just like Pro Bowl nominations, commercials just get don't filmed all that often featuring 3-4 defensive ends. For "Da Beard," they do.

"You know, the beard's done a lot for me, it really has," Keisel said. "It's been fun, I've had great responses from my teammates, from Steeler Nation, so that part of it's been a lot of fun. I can't say that the beard is the reason my game is what it is, because it's not. But it does help me. It makes me unique and I like that."

___

Note: C Maurkice Pouncey was a new addition to the injury report Thursday after being limited in practice by an elbow injury.

View the original article here

Steelers DL Aaron Smith out for season

Steelers veteran defensive end Aaron Smith has been placed on injured reserve, the team announced on Saturday.

Smith has missed the last two weeks, and was ruled out for Sunday’s game clash the Cardinals, with a foot injury.

The 35-year-old Smith has struggled with injuries the last three seasons, with shoulder, triceps and this year’s foot injury limited him to just 15 games.

Rookie defensive lineman Corbin Bryant has been signed off the practice squad to take Smith’s place on the 53-man roster.

View the original article here

Amid another shampoo ad, Steelers get down

Published: October 19th, 2011 | Tags: Troy Polamalu, Brett Keisel, Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers

Enough with the hollow chirps about the aging Steelers looking slow and clumsy on their feet.

Behind the scenes of yet another Head & Shoulders commercial spot, All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu and (furiously bearded) defensive end Brett Keisel were caught on film engaged in the cha-cha with wideout Hines Ward, the most-recent winner of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

Crew members and small children wandered close, but no matter — this Steelers trio was in a dream world of their own, holding hands, giggling and spinning on their heels to the music. A delightful moment, but not one about to strike fear into the Baltimore Ravens.

Thanks to Sporting News for the heads up on this.

– Marc Sessler

Be the first to like this post.Posted in: Around The Web   comments    

Comments may be no longer than 2000 characters and will post to the site shortly after submitting.

View the original article here

OT Gilbert, RB Moore Out for Steelers

Are all assassinations created equal? The Thread looks at reactions to the targeted drone strike that killed the American-born Islamist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

In Room for Debate: Residential programs’ effectiveness is in doubt. Their steep price is not.

A debate about the conservative reaction to Occupy Wall Street.

View the original article here

Steelers rookie RT Gilbert regrets shaky debut

Published: September 19th, 2011 | Tags: Marcus Gilbert, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, Raheem Brock, Ramon Foster

Rookie OL Marcus Gilbert‘s first day on the job for the Steelers was, at times, a little bit more Woody Allen than Damien Woody.

nfl.use('nfl-video', function (Y) { var video = new Y.NFL.Video.Player({ srcNode: "#video-player-09000d5d822560e3", align: "right", contentId: "09000d5d822560e3", related: "home", adSetting: "1", dartURL: "http://ad.doubleclick.net/pfadx/nfl.special/blog/home;s1=blog;s2=home;slot=inpage;nfl=ad;tile=3;sz=640x360;ord=?", playerName: "blog_embedded", render: true, size: "inline", uniqid: "09000d5d822560e3"});});

The second-round draft pick out of Florida, making his first start at right tackle, allowed a drive-killing sack in the first quarter of the Steelers’ 24-0 victory over the Seahawks — but it was his next gaffe, late in the first half, that had the Rooney family squirming.

Seattle’s Raheem Brock escaped past Gilbert to blast low into Ben Roethlisberger‘s right knee, leaving the QB twisting in pain on the ground.

“It was a miscommunication,” Gilbert told The Associated Press, before turning to fellow lineman Ramon Foster for support.

Said Foster: “I told him, ‘I got (Ben’s) nose broken last year.’ It’s just one of those things, don’t let it happen again. I think he’ll learn from it.”

If Roethlisberger was annoyed by Gilbert’s debut, he didn’t show it, saying he “did a great job.”

While it was predicted that rookies would be living in a world of chaos following a lockout-addled offseason that prevented them from adapting to the pace and demands of NFL play, this was more the case of learning on the job with a Steelers offensive line riddled with injuries and early season issues.

– Marc Sessler

Posted in: Around The Web   comments    

Comments may be no longer than 2000 characters and will post to the site shortly after submitting.

View the original article here

PITTSBURGH STEELERS - Football Superbowl - Vinyl Car Decal Sticker #1817 | Vinyl Color: Pink

decal

Price:

Click here to buy from Amazon

Steelers lose Harrison to knee injury

Published: September 11th, 2011 | Tags: James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 1 injuries 2011

UPDATE: The Steelers seem to have avoided a major loss, as Tomlin said during his postgame news conference that Harrison’s knee injury “doesn’t appear to be serious.”

When the Steelers’ defense was on the field late in Sunday’s 35-7 loss to the Ravens, LB James Harrison wasn’t.

According to the Ravens’ official Twitter account, the word from the press box was that Harrison suffered a knee injury, and his return was listed as questionable.

We’ll be on the lookout for postgame comments from Steelers coach Mike Tomlin for the latest on Harrison.

– Frank Tadych

Posted in: News   comments    

Comments may be no longer than 2000 characters and will post to the site shortly after submitting.

View the original article here

Post Game Thoughts on Ravens Beating of the Steelers

Wow.

I’m still shocked at how the Ravens utterly dominated the action today in Baltimore but perhaps no one is more stunned that their opponents today. This was a huge statement game from the purple and black as they drew first blood in the race to the AFC North title.

Here are some other thoughts rattling around my head after today’s shellacking.

I guess the Offensive Line didn’t need to practice together after all.  They allowed Joe Flacco to get quite comfortable with his progressions and were more than solid in the run game. (170 Total Yds. Rushing) That meant that my biggest concern with this match-up was rendered null and void.My second worry was turnovers and that was taken care of as Baltimore’s defense pounded away all day at Pittsburgh to cause seven total while the Ravens did not give the ball away once. There’s your ball game.Baltimore has 20 new players on the roster and they all had a hand in some way in today’s win. The new vets especially, as Bryant McKinnie seemed to swallow up blockers, Vonta Leach was always pushing forward and Bernard Pollard was laying hits in the backfield.

Click HERE to read the rest

View the original article here

Playbook Picks: Steelers are unanimous choice

Published: January 19th, 2011 | Tags: NFL Playbook picks, Brian Baldinger, Brian Billick, Conference Championships, Joe Theismann, NFL Playbook

It’s prediction time again for “Playbook” analysts Brian Baldinger, Joe Theismann and Brian Billick.

Although the Jets have won playoff road games against Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in consecutive weeks, the crew doesn’t see it happening a third time against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers in Pittsburgh. All three are taking the Steelers at home.

The crew is split on the Bears/Packers, who split their two meetings this season. Baldinger, who is alone on taking the home Bears, sees how they can have success against the explosive Packers.

“The Bears are set up to contain Aaron Rodgers,” Baldinger said. “They really don’t have to do a lot. They win with their front four. Speed at linebacker to take care of underneath (coverage) and chase Rodgers when he does break the pocket. The safeties generally play deep to take away the deep throws. The cornerbacks really redirect and re-route the receivers. That’s what they did in the first game, they limited the big plays and tackled very well. Really, I give the Packers credit because they stayed pretty patient (in the second) game even though they turned it over a couple of times. The defense kept it close and they won it in the fourth quarter.

“That’s the challenge, but I believe the Bears think that their defense is in place to be able to slow this offense down.”

Here are the picks for the conference championship games:

Packers at Bears 
Baldinger: Bears
Theismann: Packers
Billick: Packers

Jets at Steelers
Baldinger: Steelers
Theismann: Steelers
Billick: Steelers

Posted in: NFL Network  

View the original article here

Trust Factor a Big Key in Steelers Final Drive to Victory

The crowd at Heinz Field was on pins and needles with 2:56 remaining in the AFC Title game. The Steelers had built a 24-0 lead with what seemed like ease, but now were hanging on for dear life leading just 24-19.

All the momentum was with the Jets. Not only had they outscored the Steelers 19-0 in the last minute of the first half and to that point in the second half, but they had made enough adjustments to that point to shut down the Steelers offense.

It was an offense that had been red hot in the first half, putting up 231 yards to just 50 for the Jets, but also they had held the ball for 21:04 of the first 30 minutes.

So when Ben Roethlisberger and company took the field, even the most biggest optimist had to be nervous. Fail to get a first down, and your kicking the ball back to New York. Get a couple first downs – the game and conference title belongs to the Steelers.

The drive started with a good kick return by rookie Antonio Brown, who weaved his way to the 41 after taking the short kick at his own 14-yard line.

The first play was a harmless run to Rashard Mendenhall, who had been a beast all day. The run, with the Jets loading the box, was for just a yard.

Then came surprise number one. Instead of running and having the Jets use another critical timeout, the Steelers went to throw. Roethlisberger fired a pass for tight end Heath Miller, who came up with the grab after a 14-yard gain to the Jets 44.

Two minute warning.

The Jets were down to one timeout, and another first down and the title would belong to the Steelers. The next play was another run, this time it netted two yards for Mendenhall. 2nd and 8, and another run to try and eat up clock. Again, a two-yard game, setting up 3rd-and-6 from Jets 40 at the two-minute warning.

It was time for Mike Tomlin and the team to make a decision. Do you go for the win, trying to break the hearts of the Jets all at once, or do you do the safe thing, which is to run the ball, and likely have to punt with about 1:10 left?

The Steelers decided to go for the win, and boy did it ever pay off. Roethlisberger scrambled, and eventually found young rookie Antonio Brown streaking from the other side of the field for a 14-yard gain that in the end, was the clincher.

Brown was part of a three WR set to Ben’s left, while Heath Miller and Hines Ward were on his right. Brown was matched up on a linebacker, and broke free after getting stopped to make the play and clinch the win.

“I always feel blessed to have my number called,” Brown said. “But Ben made the play.”

And he’s right. Roethlisberger right away after seeing Miller and Ward covered decided to run, but instead of doing the safe thing and either running or just going down to keep the clock running, he chucked it to Brown, who made another memorable play.

Tomlin said it best when he said the team simply wasn’t playing the safe mode on the final series, or on the 3rd and 6 that in the end decided the game.

“We weren’t going to play not to lose,” Tomlin said. “That’s pretty funny isn’t it? A third-and-6 to win the game for a rookie from Central Michigan.”

And the trust that has become so evident between the coaches, the players, and a QB who had to sit and watch the first four games grows ever stronger. One more win, and that bond will be super glued forever with another piece of hardware.

View the original article here

Observations in the Jets AFC Title Setback to the Steelers

Observations from yet another AFC Title game loss, this time in Pittsburgh to a Steelers team they had beaten by five just a few weeks ago.

1. Tackling – Not sure what happened, but in the first half of the loss, the team picked a bad time to forget how to tackle. They made Rashard Mendenhall look like Jim Brown in his prime. He broke tackles, and took screen passes and pushed Jets would-be tacklers aside all night. By the time the Jets defense started putting up a fight, they were down 24-0, and by then it was simply too late.

2. Wide Outs Nowhere to be found – While Santonio Holmes’ touchdown gave the Jets a shot of hope early in the third quarter, too often in the loss the combo of he and Braylon Edwards were invisible at best. Sure the Steelers pass rush had a lot to do with it, but at the same time, these are two guys that were paid to make plays, and it was tough to watch them play after play get little separation from the Steelers corners.

3. No sense of panic – Your down by two scores, you have scored just one TD all night, and your walking to the line of scrimmage wasting valuable time left in your season. Get the point? The Jets too often didn’t play with any sense of urgency, and wasted a long drive that they needed to get points on. Instead, the scene of Sanchez rushing to the sideline to get the plays was often a sight that made you want to throw a shoe though a TV. Forget about the excuse of the headset not working. Not good enough, and there’s ways around it, and the Jets didn’t play like it in the biggest game of the year.

4. All Bark, No Bite – Let’s face it, the Jets were flat. The fact the Steelers went on a drive that used up over half the first quarter showed that the team was not inspired to play Jets football. The team tried to put on a brave face, but the Steelers simply were the more physical team for the first 30 minutes, and that was enough to build a lead that was too much to overcome. Playing three games, on the road is a lot to ask of any team, and the Jets did their best to try and pretend it wasn’t a factor, but it was, and it showed with the way the Steelers played.

View the original article here

Steelers need the big plays on both sides

Published: January 15th, 2011 | Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers, Antonio Brown, Antwaan Randle El, Dawan Landry, Ed Reed, Emmanuel Sanders, Michael Oher, Mike Wallace

The Ravens have jumped out to a 14-point lead with a number of big plays, and the Steelers need to do the same thing here in the second half.

The Ravens are going to keep safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry over Steelers WR Mike Wallace, but Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown have speed, too. So the Steelers have to keep spreading them out and trying to work on the depth of the Ravens cornerbacks.

The Steelers also have used gimmick plays in the past, a flea-flicker with Antwaan Randle El might be in order. They need something explosive.

On defense, I would overload Ravens T Michael Oher with defensive back blitzes and gamble on a big play out of my defense.

Posted in: Jason La Canfora  

View the original article here

Steelers, Ravens classic missed just one thing

Published: January 15th, 2011 | Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers, Anquan Boldin, Baltimore Ravens, John Harbaugh, Justin Bieber, Mike Tomlin

The Steelers and Ravens entertaining slugfest disguised as a AFC divisional playoff game had it all: Vitriol. Huge plays on both sides of the ball. And actual scoring.

There was only one thing missing — overtime.

And not just any overtime, but a brand spanking new kind of overtime.

The NFL has enacted new rules for overtime this season, making sure that the game cannot end on a field goal during the first drive of the extra session. So it seemed fitting that the Steelers and Ravens would take the new rules out for a spin. At least that seemed to be the consensus on Twitter after the Ravens tied the game 24-24 with just minutes left to go.

This was like one of those Buffalo Wild Wings’ commercials, nobody wanted this game to end.

But the Ravens’ inability to hold on a third-and-19 cost us all the chance to see how Ravens coach John Harbaugh and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin would have laid down the blueprint for the new rules as the Steelers were able to pull out the win.

Though, after watching Tomlin use his team’s two challenges in the first quarter, Steelers fans are probably thankful they did not get a chance to see how that would have played out.

Instead, Twitter turned Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh into trending topics after huge fourth-quarter drops by both veteran wideouts. Though both again fell just short, this time losing to #RIP JUSTIN BIEBER.

Posted in: News  

View the original article here

Sanders: Steelers need to go to Ward

Published: January 15th, 2011 | Tags: Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens, Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said before the Ravens-Steelers game that the key to winning for both teams came down to Ravens TE Todd Heap and Steelers WR Hines Ward, because neither team was going to have much success running the football.

This is why you listen to what “Prime” tells you.

The Ravens just connected with Heap to increase their lead to 21-7, and have taken the energy out of Heinz Field. Ward does not have a catch yet for the Steelers.

The Steelers are going to need to go to Ward to move the chains, and get the offense rolling.

Posted in: NFL Network  

View the original article here

Steelers, Packers put up impressive numbers

Published: January 16th, 2011 | Tags: Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, John Harbaugh, Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Tomlin, Peyton Manning, Terrell Suggs

Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald called the Steelers’ 31-24 triumph over the Ravens an instant classic. And what a game it was.

The Steelers will make their 15th conference championship appearance since 1970 (most in the NFL), while improving to 32-19 all-time in the playoffs, including a perfect 3-0 mark against the Ravens. The Steelers’ .627 winning percentage is the highest in NFL playoff history as well.

Here are some other morsels unearthed by our research department.

The Steelers outscored the Ravens 24-3 in the second half (the second-most points allowed by the Ravens against the Steelers all-time including playoff games, and the most points allowed by the Ravens in the second half since Nov. 27, 2005, when they allowed 25 second-half points to the Bengals).Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is 5-1 in the playoffs. Ravens coach John Harbaugh is 4-3 in the playoffs, with all of those games coming on the road.Ravens QB Joe Flacco is 2-6 vs. the Steelers, including the playoffs (0-6 when Ben Roethlisberger starts).The Ravens’ Terrell Suggs had three sacks and a forced fumble against the Steelers. He has five sacks in two playoff games this season, 10 sacks in his last seven playoff games and 13 sacks in his last 11 games against the Steelers, including the playoffs.Roethlisberger matched Colts QB Peyton Manning in playoff wins. Roethlisberger is 9-2 in the playoffs, while Manning is 9-10. Roethlisberger ranks second all-time among quarterbacks in playoff winning percentage.

Fitzgerald called Packers QB Aaron Rodgers the real slim shady. Alright, that won’t be the first time that Rodgers has been given somebody else’s nickname. Here are some notes from the Packers’ convincing win.

Rodgers is 2-1 in career playoff games as a starter, all on the road. The Packers won two playoff road games in the same season for the first time in franchise history.Rodgers had 366 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. This marked the seventh time in NFL playoff history that a player has had 300-plus passing yards, at least three touchdown passes and at least one rushing touchdown. But Rodgers is the only person to do it twice (Manning, Jeff Garcia, Kurt Warner, Dan Marino and Joe Montana are the other quarterbacks to attain those numbers in a playoff game).Rodgers’ 86.1 completion percentage is the fifth-highest in NFL playoff history (at least 20 attempts).Rodgers’ playoff passer rating is currently 129.4 (105 playoff attempts). Starr holds the NFL playoff record (104.8) for quarterbacks with at least 150 attempts.The Packers set a franchise record by scoring 48 points, breaking the previous mark of 45 set in last year’s 51-45 overtime loss to the Cardinals. The Packers scored a touchdown on five consecutive offensive possessions from the second to third quarter, tied for the second-most consecutive possessions with a touchdown in a playoff game since 1991.The Packers were the sixth team in NFL playoff history to not punt in a game.Posted in: News  

View the original article here

Steelers’ Smith out, Ravens’ Birk in for Round 3

Published: January 15th, 2011 | Tags: AFC Divisional Playoffs, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, who has been dealing with an ankle injury, is active for the AFC Divisional showdown with the rival Baltimore Ravens Saturday, as expected. Polamalu was a full participant in practice for the first time Thursday and was listed as probable on the team’s final injury report. He missed games in Weeks 15 and 16 while dealing with ankle and Achilles injuries, but he returned in Week 17 to face the Cleveland Browns.

Cornerback Bryant McFadden (abdomen) participated fully in Friday’s practice and is set to go as well.

Steelers DE Aaron Smith wasn’t ready to come back from a triceps injury he suffered in Week 7 and has been ruled out.

For the Ravens, center Matt Birk missed a two days of practice this week while dealing with a knee injury but will be active. He was listed as questionable, along with cornerback Chris Carr (thigh), who will also suit up after being limited in practice this week.

Safety Tom Zbikowski has been ruled out with a back injury.

Ravens
WR/KR David Reed
S Tom Zbikowski
LB Jason Phillips
DT Arthur Jones
G Bryan Mattison
TE Davon Drew
TE Dennis Pitta
DT Lamar Divens

Steelers
Charlie Batch (No. 3 QB)
RB Jonathan Dwyer
DB Crezdon Butler
OT Chris Scott
OT Tony Hills
DT Steve McLendon
DE Aaron Smith
LB Jason Worlids

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Posted in: News  

View the original article here

A Litter of Steelers Should Make the Pro Bowl

Tuesday night in a show on NFL Network, the league will disclose who has been selected to make the Pro Bowl for both the AFC and the NFC. The Steleers, winners of 11 games and with a win Sunday the #2 seed in the conference and the AFC North Champs, should have a number of players on that roster.

Here’s a look at the players that deserve to be at least in strong consideration for the AFC Pro Bowl this season.

Troy Polamalu, Safety - The heart and soul of the defense, Polamalu has been a huge difference maker, and the Steelers may not be in position to be the #2 seed if it were not for his game-saving play on Joe Flacco against the Ravens a few weeks back. He has 62 tackles, six interceptions and one sack. When he’s healthy, the Steelers D is as good as any in the league. A shoe-in for sure to make the team.

James Harrison, Linebacker - Like him or not, Harrison is another difference maker, and when he’s playing at a high level (which is just about every week), he’s another Steeler defender that is tough to stop. He has 94 tackles, 11 sacks and two interceptions this season, and come the postseason his play will go a long way in determining how far the Steelers go. Will be interesting based on the fines the league has handed him if his peers vote him in.

Mike Wallace, Wide Receiver – The 2nd year wide out has officially taken over as the teams #1 receiver, and his big play ability has been a huge spark to the Steelers offense. He has 53 receptions for 1,152 yards and nine touchdowns, and this season he and Ben Roethlisberger have hooked up for five touchdowns of 40+ yards. He might get overlooked by the players, but trust me, his time to play in this game will come at the latest next season.

Rashard Mendenhall, Running Back – While everyone says the Steelers can’t run and the O-line is crap, all Mendy has done is run for 1,237 yards and 11 touchdowns, and his big games in weeks one and three vs the Falcons and Bucs helped the team while Roethlisberger was suspended. He had a huge game in the OT win over the Bills, and a 99-yard game in the near win over the Jets, a team many don’t have success running against. Another big piece to the playoff puzzle, Mendy deserves a trip to the Pro Bowl.

Maurkice Pouncey, Center – And to think that some in Steeler Nation didn’t like this pick with the 18th overall choice in April’s draft. All Pouncey has done in the past 9 months was push undersized center Justin Hartwig out the door, play every game as the teams starting center without missing much time, and help the team rank 10th in rushing with 121.6 yards per game and a 4.1 yards per carry average. In the mold of Mike Webster and Dirt Dawson, Pouncey is going to be the rock at center for this team for a long time to come barring injury.

View the original article here

Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu to Sit vs Jets Sunday

In the scheme of things, Troy Polamalu has had a rather large hand in the Steelers four-game winning streak, more so the past two weeks in wins over the Ravens and Bengals.

This week though things may have to take a drastic turn, as reports state that Polamalu will sit Sunday vs the Jets due to a lower-leg injury that he re-injured during his45-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Bengals.

Polamalu has yet to practice this week, which for Wednesday and Thursday isn’t a surprise, but he isn’t on the field today, which is a switch, and therefore comes the report he won’t go Sunday.

He will be replaced in the starting lineup by Ryan Mundy or Will Allen. Despite aggravating his injury in the second quarter against the Bengals, Polamalu never missed a play and even had a second interception in the fourth quarter.

So now the team will have to have others come up with big plays vs Mark Sanchez and the Jets, as it’s been Polamalu that had the big hit vs Joe Flacco two weeks ago that gave the Steelers the opportunity to win the game, and his pick vs Carson Palmer got the team back in the game vs Cincy.

View the original article here

Steelers Offensive Line Getting Blasted Over Holding Calls

The Steelers offensive line has had it’s issues as of late, complete with about as many holding penalties over the past few games that could make up an entire season.

Such was the case Tuesday when Mike Tomlin brought up the holding calls during his briefing with the media.

“We’ve been holding and we need to stop,” Tomlin said. “We need to cut down on holding. No question holding occurs on every snap in the National Football League. I think anybody in the industry will acknowledge that. What we need to do is cut down on the actions that are triggering the flags, which is grabbing and restricting the jersey coming away from the body and so forth.”

“Cut down the actions,” would be the easiest start. It seems that with injuries and players playing that might not normally be on the field, the Steelers have players that have got to cut the penalties down and get better. Fast.

With three games left and needing to win at least two to not give the Ravens a shot to sneak in and steal the division back, the O-line will continue to be a source of people taking shots at them.

That is until they either get better – or have a game like the Eagles game in 2008, where Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 8 times. You know that the Jets are going to try to come after the Steelers QB Sunday, so they had better make sure they get in a good week, work hard, and watch the penalties.

Or else this trip to the postseason may be a short one at best.

View the original article here

Flacco on fines: Steelers’ Harrison is doing his job

Published: December 2nd, 2010 | Tags: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens, James Harrison, NFL Total Access, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rivalry week for the Ravens and Steelers has brought us the latest example of Joe Cool being Joe Cool.

Flacco joined our Randy Moss for an interview Thursday to discuss the emotions involved in facing the Steelers, and he was asked if players have to guard against getting too hyped for the game.

“I guess some guys,” Flacco said. “I think we have a pretty mature team. Guys who know how to go out there and take care of business. I don’t really run into that too much because I like to stay pretty level-headed. Ray Lewis does a pretty good job of taking care of all the emotional stuff for us.”

Speaking of emotional, James Harrison will be lining up across from Flacco a little lighter this week. Harrison was fined $25,000 for a helmet-leading hit on Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, running the linebacker’s tab to $125,000 this season for four separate violations, which has drawn scrutiny of the policy as well as accusations the league is targeting the Steelers.

Flacco, one of the players the rules are designed to protect and thus one of the most likely to condone them, sided with the sentiments of many players when he said he doesn’t fault Harrison for his aggressive style.

“I wouldn’t like to get fined, so I don’t like to see fellow players get fined,” Flacco said. “He’s out there playing football, and he’s doing what he’s been taught to do his whole life. This is a vicious game … you’re out there not to hurt people, but to hit people pretty hard. If they get hurt, that’s what happens. It’s kind of tough to see a guy get fined that much money for doing his job.”

Posted in: NFL Network  

View the original article here