Pittsburgh Steelers Midseason Report Card
After Week 3, and the second last-minute road loss in a row, as crazy as it might sound, some people were ready to write the Steelers off. Never mind that it was only three weeks into the season — that 1-2 record was hard for a lot of fans to swallow. There was talk of the dreaded "Super Bowl Hangover." The team wasn't hungry enough. The defense wasn't the same. The offense was struggling in the red zone. The kicker was a mess.
The worst thing about the NFL is how fans constantly jump to long-term conclusions based on one or two games. You'd think folks would realize by now that teams usually don't go undefeated. But because the sport is so popular, and the games so infrequent compared to other team sports, there's nothing left to do but debate. And worry. Yes, even if you're a Steeler fan.
We often don't realize how good we have it. When one or two close losses are enough to bring the Chickens Little out of the coop, everyone should stop, take a deep breath, and thank the Lord that we're not fans of the Browns. Or the Rams. Or the Bills. Or the Raiders. And so on.
The thing is, deep down inside, we all know this. But it's hard to keep that in mind after Brian Leonard breaks a tackle on 4th and 10 to pick up a first down with 19 seconds left.
The Steelers, however, are still a very, very good team. It can be argued that our Stillers should have — and could have — won the Chicago and Cincinnati games. But there's no time for what-ifs. We're dealing in what is. And 6-2 is a fine place to be.
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger is playing the best football of his career. The only NFL QB definitively playing better at this point in the season is Peyton Manning. You can make the argument for Brees or Brady, certainly, but Big Ben is right there. Ben currently has a 70.9 percent completion percentage (best in the league), averages 8.76 yards per attempt (second, behind Brees) and a 2:1 TD-INT ratio (and one of the seven INTs was a Hail Mary attempt).
Setting the stats aside, as a Steeler fan, do you ever feel uncomfortable when Ben is on the field? I don't. No matter the deficit, we can always come back. I've never had that feeling with any other Steeler QB in my lifetime.
Grade: A
Offensive Line
Football Outsiders explained the importance of offensive line continuity in the 2009 "Football Outsiders Almanac." I'm inclined to agree. How else could this line, so beleaguered last year, be so solid this year? With the exception of the injury-forced Trai Essex — Darnell Stapleton swap (an upgrade), there's no difference between this year's line and last year's.
It's all about continuity. At the very least, the line isn't nearly as confused about its assignments as it was in the past. (See: last year's Eagles game.) Combine that with improved individual play, especially from the tackles (Max Starks in particular has been impressive), and you've got an offensive line that no longer stands out as a weak link.
Are there still some slip-ups? Sure. For instance, Denver's only touchdown in Week 9 came after Kemoeatu was beaten badly. But overall, what a difference a year makes.
Grade: B
Running Backs
Another NFL lesson in jumping to conclusions. So many Steeler fans were ready to label Mendenhall as a bust, despite the fact that going into his start against San Diego, Mendy had 26 total career carries. 26! These fans were undoubtedly some of the same people who once tried to coin the nickname "Bustamalu." (Shakes head)
Meanwhile, one of the first questions I'd ask my dad after every game was always the same: Where's Mendenhall? It would be one thing if Willie Parker was setting the world on fire, but that was far from the case. (Of all RBs who have carried the ball between 14 and 71 times this season, Parker is currently dead last in DYAR, a Football Outsiders stat that determines total value.)
I don't want to rail on Parker too much, but let's be honest ... the guy is probably done. He's definitely lost a step, and — take it from a guy who's had turf toe — his injury won't make things any easier this season. Take away his speed and he's nearly useless. He never was a great inside runner. He can't break tackles. And now he can't even get to the outside. There's a reason he didn't see the field against the Broncos.
Mendenhall is becoming a beast. He's stronger than Parker (probably faster now, too), has better vision, is tougher to tackle, has one of the best spin moves in the game and can stonewall blitzing linebackers. He's a decent receiver, but there is room for improvement.
Two fumbles in 109 touches is a problem, but it's no reason to overreact. Mendenhall should adapt and improve in this area, as well.
And then you've got Mewelde Moore, a fine third down back, as trusty as can be. As Mike Tomlin said, he's not low-maintenance, he's "no maintenance." Keep in mind, he's still only 27 years old. Conceivably, he could fulfill his current role for at least the next five years (just look at Kevin Faulk in New England). Picking him up as a free agent was one of the shrewder moves the Steeler front office has made in recent years.
Grade: B
Wide Receivers
What can one say about Hines Ward at this point? At 33, he's currently seventh in total receiving yardage and receptions and fourth in DYAR. Stop waiting for his decline. When Ward does retire, there will likely be a heated Hall of Fame debate. And Steeler fans will make the Art Monk campaign look like a Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign. I just want to warn all non-Steeler fans in advance. We will not back down on this.
Also in the top echelon of that DYAR list is Santonio Holmes, who is coming off a great game in Denver. Holmes only has one TD so far this season, but that's not his fault — he's just not getting as many red zone targets as Ward or Heath Miller. What he is getting is lots of YAC. Few NFL receivers are as dangerous on slants.
Then you have rookie Mike Wallace, a legitimate candidate for NFL offensive rookie of the year. What's most impressive about Wallace isn't his blazing speed — it's that, as a rookie, he knows how to use it. Useful rookie WRs are few and far between in the NFL, but Wallace is running good routes, and when Ben scrambles, he knows how to get open. He's everything Nate Washington was and much more, and he's only 23 years old. It's still early in his career, but there's plenty of reason to be giddy about the third-round steal.
Then there's Limas Sweed. Oh, Limas. Listen, anyone can drop a ball or two, even at the worst possible times. I defended him. I agree, you have to make the most out of your limited opportunities, but at least the guy could get open.
I'm not ready to write the guy off completely, but on this team, he's become irrelevant. The Steelers rarely use 4 WRs. When four or five guys are running routes, usually, one or two of them are a TE or RB. I still advocate using Sweed sparingly and dressing him over Shaun McDonald — Sweed has more upside, and Ward and Miller already fill the possession receiver role. Maybe he'll flash enough ability to be used as trade bait somewhere down the line, or he could become a good injury fill-in. If he holds onto the ball.
Grade: A-
Tight Ends
Heath Miller is a very good blocker, an extremely trusty receiver, and by all accounts, a fine human being. He's not as explosive as, say, Owen Daniels, but he doesn't really need to be in this offense. Though it would be nice to see him get a bit more YAC, it's hard to complain about a guy who catches 86 percent of all balls thrown his way.
Grade: A
Defensive Line
For the umpteenth straight year, nobody can run on the Steelers, and this is where it all begins. Casey Hampton still requires a double team. Brett Keisel can rush the passer better than most 3-4 ends. Aaron Smith is hurt, but so far, his replacements have been more than adequate. So far. Long-term, it's still a concern. Rookie defensive linemen are hardly ever dominant forces, and Ziggy Hood is no exception, but he'll have more of an opportunity to show his potential in the second half of this season. This unit is boring in its annual effectiveness. It's a very good kind of boring.
Grade: A
Linebackers
At this point, they're not getting quite the pressure they were last season, but I think they're on the way. LaMarr Woodley only has four sacks, but he's getting closer. Don't be surprised if he lets loose with a three-sack game soon.
Keyaron Fox has filled in very well for the oft-injured Lawrence Timmons. I'd love to see the explosive Timmons at 100 percent for more than a few games at a time, but I guess we'll have to keep waiting.
The guy who worries me the most right now is James Farrior, and even he doesn't have me all that concerned. He has looked a step slower at times, though.
The biggest flaw of this unit is its inability to cover TEs when need be (i.e., the Chargers game), but it's a problem that really only surfaces when Polamalu isn't on the field.
Oh, and James Harrison? Still eating souls on a regular basis. Don't be too shocked if he ends up as defensive MVP again.
Grade: B+
Secondary
It's tough to evaluate this unit when Troy Polamalu is out, other than to say it's far less effective. Tyrone Carter is a hard worker, but anyone who saw the Cedric Benson touchdown run in Week 3 could immediately see the difference between Ty and Troy. Carter took a poor angle on the run and Benson went right by him. If Troy was out there, Benson never sniffs the end zone. Because even when Polamalu takes a strange angle, his speed and quickness can make up for it. The Tyrone Carters of the world don't have that luxury.
Ryan Clark still hits hard and is positionally sound, the perfect safety companion for Polamalu. As it turns out, Clark is similar to Chris Hope, though I think Clark's better in coverage, especially on deep passes down the middle of the field.
Ike Taylor and William Gay have been workmanlike at cornerback. Taylor's having a solid year, but he hasn't been shutdown like he was for much of 2008. Gay is still learning to be the starter, and he's been picked on a bit, but other than getting trucked by Adrian Peterson, no extremely negative plays stand out.
Offenses have been able to work the Steeler secondary with a short passing game, though most of that has to do with the defensive scheme — the corners often give opposing wideouts sizable cushions. The Steelers seem content to let QBs dink and dunk a bit until the coverage tightens up when the opponents enter field goal range. Against most of the league's quarterbacks, this is a sound strategy. But elite QBs are patient and smart enough to take what is given to them, then skilled enough to make that one throw for a score in the red zone. The Steeler corners are, for the most part, excellent tacklers, which can hide this weakness at times. But in a close game against a good QB, it can doom the Steelers. It happened against Cutler and Palmer — it can certainly happen when facing Manning or Brady.
A big part of this problem are the 3rd and 4th corners. Deshea Townsend is a trooper, but he's 34. As green as William Gay is, we don't want an injury that will force Townsend into matching up with the other team's #2 WR. It won't work as well as it did in the past. And the less said about Keiwan Ratliff, the better. Hopefully, Joe Burnett or Keenan Lewis will improve and learn enough to take over the 4th CB position as the year goes on.
As for Polamalu, his incomparable presence can elevate a high "C" secondary to a low "A" secondary, so the first-half grade is ...
Grade: B
Special Teams
This is likely Jeff Reed's last year in a Steeler uniform. The Chicago game notwithstanding, he's been a trusty field goal kicker over the years, and it's tough to let that go. But you have to consider his off-field transgressions and astonishing lack of a kickoff leg: He has one touchback this season! In Denver! And he doesn't even average 60 yards per kickoff these days, placing him at a nearly impossible 37th overall.
Let me put that in perspective. Carolina's Rhys Lloyd gets 10 more yards per kickoff than Reed. While Lloyd's kickoffs land at the goal line, Reed's kicks are dropping at about the 10-yard line. This is a serious problem. It's probably no surprise the Steelers have allowed two kickoff return TDs already this season, including the inevitable Josh Cribbs TD. The punt coverage has been better than the kickoff coverage.
Some Steeler fans debate whether or not return specialist Stefan Logan deserves a roster spot. I always come down on the side of "Yes, of course." His 26.1 yards per kick return is in the top 10 for players who have 10 or more kick returns this season, and a 56-yard return is his longest. He doesn't have a TD yet, but he's capable, and it feels like he's about to break one. That alone makes him a tremendous improvement from last year's crop of returners, who could, at times, break one ... out to their own 40. Logan is more middle-of-the-pack on punt returns, and a few fumbles have forced Moore into return duty when the punts are likely to be caught near the 10. But Logan is dangerous; a weapon. And we all know that fumble in the Charger game was just plain surreal. I don't really count that.
Daniel Sepulveda would have been welcomed back with open arms no matter what this season, simply because he's not Mitch Berger. Sepulveda's net average places him in the top 10 so far. He's dropped 13 punts inside the 20; not spectacular, but more impressive when you realize he has as many touchbacks as Jeff Reed this season: one. But he's not supposed to get 'em, Jeff. You are.
And did you see that tackle Sepulveda made in the Denver game? All hustle. Compare that with Reed's "effort" on Percy Harvin, and well ... let's just move on.
Grade: C-
Coaching
Through 40 regular season games, Mike Tomlin has a 28-12 record. He's also 3-1 in the playoffs and has one Super Bowl victory in two seasons. He has the intensity of Cowher, but doesn't seem to be as hardheaded when it comes to certain aspects of the game. I appreciate that he understands Steeler football is meant to be winning football — not necessarily the type of football that requires a 60/40 running/passing split. He knows how to motivate (see Mendenhall's benching prior to his San Diego breakout) and has the team's unquestioned respect. He understands how to use his personnel and he won't hesitate to make improvements. There is no blind loyalty — Mendenhall is now the starter, Wallace has solidified the third WR position. He has been good at clock management (though it helps having a QB who can expertly run a two-minute drill). If you had the opportunity today to trade Tomlin for any head coach, considering both this season and the future of the franchise, would you? I wouldn't.
Far be it from me to question Dick LeBeau. I've expressed concerns about the soft corner cushions at times, but there's probably a good reason for it, personnel-wise. And it's not that different from how he's played coverages in the past. My only other real concern is this team's late game defensive meltdowns. Hopefully those are a thing of the past, but they probably have more to do with personnel than anything. Because the man can still make the second-half adjustments. Did you see the second half of the Denver game?
It seems that as the offensive line goes, so does Bruce Arians. We've all accepted that Big Ben is elite — if the offense is sputtering, it's usually either the fault of Arians or the line, right? Arians was as maligned as the line at times last year. Again, his failure to switch to a short, quick passing game against the Eagles last season gave the Steelers O-line (and Ben) no help when they needed it.
But I'm writing about this season. And really, there's not much to complain about, folks. I haven't found myself questioning the play calling nearly as much as I did. The Steelers can pass seven times in a row, and they're not afraid to do so. The trips bunch formation works so well, it's a wonder that more teams don't use it frequently. And the running game is improving drastically. If I'm nitpicking, I'd like to throw the quick bubble screen to Holmes more often than Ward, and I'd like to see the Mularkey pitch away from the counter every now and then for Mendenhall, but as the QB and line shine, so does Arians. Funny how that works.
Grade: A-
Final Thoughts
The Steelers aren't perfect, but no teams are. Nearly all units have been above average so far this season. A few tough matchups — including the upcoming Bengals game and two tilts with the Ravens — await, but the schedule still looks favorable in the second part of the season for one of the league's best teams.
My Top 100 Albums of the Decade (80-71)
80. The Apples in Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder (2007)
"And you don't even know my name, and you know every constellation"
All you need is ELO. Of all the Elephant 6 bands, The Apples in Stereo have always created the most straightforward pop music. As it turns out, Jeff Lynne-style production is what the Apples were missing all along. The band sounds vibrant and whole on New Magnetic Wonder. "Turn up your stereo," indeed.
The Apples in Stereo - "Can You Feel It?"
79. Interpol - Antics (2004)
"We ain't going to the town, we're going to the city"
Interpol is a good band with a limited sound. That may be a backhanded compliment, but it's better than being a bad band with a limited sound, is it not? Bands shouldn't have to constantly reinvent the wheel, but any self-respecting musician wants to stretch out. And a group like Interpol can only stretch so far without falling apart. Their sound is too distinct, their songs too similar. When Interpol added new instruments and got big ideas on Our Love to Admire, the group released one of the decade's most disappointing albums.
Antics is where they pushed things just enough. The group concentrated on stripped-down, upbeat (for Interpol, anyway) songs. The result is a lean, mean album that will probably end up being the group's best.
Interpol - "Evil"
78. The Shins - Oh, Inverted World (2001)
"And if you'd a-took to me like a gull takes to the wind, well I'd a-jumped from my tree, and I'd a-danced like the king of the eyesores, and the rest of our lives would a-fared well"
I love "New Slang," Zach Braff does, we all do, but there's no reason to skip around here. Oh, Inverted World is concise and sneaky. It's more like a expanded song suite than a full-length album, which speaks to both its charm and its limitations. But most bands would kill to be limited to such pretty tunes.
The Shins - "New Slang"
77. Islands - Return to the Sea (2006)
"They want me raw and smooth like glass, they want it fast, but they don't want flaws, I'm a girl's best friend, can you cut? — I can cut — 'Cause I'm a rough gem"
In the category of opening statement songs, Return to the Sea kicks off the existence of Islands with "Swans (Life After Death)," a nearly 10 minute epic that announced Nick Thorburn was distancing himself from the whimsical, madhouse outbursts of the Unicorns. But not completely — he turned whimsy into a professional curiosity while increasing the scope of his songs. That being said, "Rough Gem," a three-and-a-half minute pop song, is still the best thing he's ever done.
Islands - "Rough Gem"
76. Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004)
"Ice age, heat wave, can't complain, if the world's at large, why should I remain?"
Just as A-Rod will never be a "true Yankee," I'll probably never be a "true" Modest Mouse fan. The group's older work doesn't do it for me, and — spoiler alert — you won't find The Moon & Antarctica on this list. Don't get me wrong, it's a good album with some amazing tunes, especially "3rd Planet," which is one of my favorite songs of the decade, period. But I'd be lying if I told you I didn't have a hard time getting through that slow middle part of the album.
Good News doesn't have such a stretch. It's also when the band became popular, but that's due to "Float On," which was too good and too weird of a hit to ever really become played out. I appreciate that the Mouse does whatever it feels like — success just happened to come along the way.
Modest Mouse - "Satin in a Coffin" (live)
75. Tim Fite - Fair Ain't Fair (2008)
"I think I need to make more dough so I can buy more clothes, so I can look like them folks who buys clothes"
I think of Tim Fite as a sort of backwoods Beck. I was surprised to learn that he was once Little T, in another musical life. This album traipses and tramples through styles, with love. Few other albums released this decade have two songs as good as "Big Mistake" and "More Clothes."
Tim Fite - "Big Mistake"
74. Kanye West - Graduation (2007)
"Good morning, and look at the valedictorian, scared of the future while I hop in the DeLorean, scared to face the world, complacent career student, some people graduate but be still stupid"
This is the only hip-hop album you'll find on the list. It's not that I don't like rap. I do, but I don't seek it out too often. It's fair to say that I like it but I don't love it. And for me, few hip-hop albums work as a whole. Hip-hop is a singles genre in a singles world.
So why Kanye West, and why this album? I mean, was there no fear about how blatantly white it looks for one Kanye album to be thrown into this list? It's all about honesty. And this is the 00's hip-hop album that keeps bringing me back. Great rhymes, stellar production, and the songs stick for days and days, if not longer.
Kanye West - "Homecoming"
73. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema (2005)
Choosing between New Pornographers albums really just comes down to what collection of high-quality songs you like best. Twin Cinema sounds bigger than the group's first two efforts, but really, it's the same formula. Fantastic melodies and different voices taking turns in the spotlight.
The New Pornographers - "Sing Me Spanish Techno"
72. Björk - Vespertine (2001)
Her soaring, incomparable voice can carry any song. That much we knew. But as Vespertine proved, she could even shine when it was oh, so quiet. There are many great summer albums. This is a great winter album. But is this the last great Björk album? I hope not.
Björk - "Pagan Poetry" (live)
71. Man Man - Rabbit Habits (2008)
I wish there were more albums like this, but I understand that few bands are able to pull it off. Man Man doesn't just dabble in different genres — it's a bull in a record shop. It's an experimental band, sure, but it doesn't sound like an experiment. The songs are all attacked with equal enthusiasm. I love the frantic freak-outs. And the twisted soul songs.
Man Man - "Rabbit Habits"
Who wants to know?
I love Yahoo! Answers, because it's trying to complete the internet. It's filling in the gaps. Because even in this day and age, there are still some web searches that yield no viable results.
And so, it's Yahoo! Answers to the rescue. Where else would we find the solutions to such pertinent questions?
That being said, I don't think this is a "resolved question." The "best answer" isn't even an answer. It's just another question. There's nothing definitive here.
Meanwhile, poor Bradley waits, deep in the heart of Texas, bird-in-kettle.
Things imaginary people do
While wandering through the fragrance section in a department store, I wondered aloud:
"Do you think anyone comes here and uses the tester colognes before they go on dates?" I asked my wife.
She didn't think so. I, however, have convinced myself that there's some guy out there who refuses to buy cologne, so before he heads out on a date, he always stops by his local fragrance section to spray on some scent. It's not that absurd.
I often have these thoughts. "Do you think there's someone who ... ?" I fill in the gap with bizarre actions. And I almost always think that there is, in fact, someone in the world who does these things. People are strange. Even when you're not a stranger.