Baltimore 31, Pittsburgh 7

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is a pass rush. And consistent offensive line play.

Love,
Blacky

The Future is Now

Pro Football Weekly offers the following insight this week on the Steelers' future:

"The Steelers’ running game was under close scrutiny after a tough three-game stretch in Weeks 11-13, but a 52-carry, 303-yard performance vs. Cleveland on Dec. 7 gives something the Steelers can build upon in the final weeks. The way we hear it, the play of the right side of the line had come under criticism of late, with neither ORT Max Starks nor ORG Kendall Simmons playing as well in the run game as the team would have liked. But the Steelers ran to the right with success vs. the Browns, with RB Willie Parker running often behind the blocking of Simmons and Starks. From what we’re told, it’s conceivable that both players could face competition for their jobs next season. Simmons could even be considered at center, where current starting C Jeff Hartings is getting up in age. But for now, Simmons and Starks will remain where they are."

My guess is that Hartings will retire after this season. He was man-handled at times this year, and Chukky Okobi is waiting to take his place. (PFW is totally wrong, in my estimation, about Simmons at center. He was a disaster there in the pre-season.) The right side of the O-line could face increased challenges in training camp in 2007. Starks, a restricted free agent after this season, is likely to be re-signed, but I expect the Steelers to bring in a player to push him, and perhaps ultimately replace him. Starks is actually listed among the top tackles in free agency, so it seems unlikely that Pittsburgh will find a viable challenger among free agents like Leonard Davis and Marc Colombo. With each Steeler win, the chances of drafting Michigan RT Jake Long (assuming, as many do, that he will declare for the draft) decline, perhaps leaving the Steelers with no easy answer at the position.

The guard position offers more in free agency, including accomplished run-blockers Vince Manuwai (Jags) and Kris Dielman (Chargers). Generally, the Steelers are good for one FA signing per off-season, and this may be it.

Or, the free agent signing may be a new backup to Willie Parker. Despite a few flashes of his talent, the Hamper Dumper has done little, and will likely be gone. Duce Staley has already been cut. A few big backs are out there, including TJ Duckett, whom the Steelers sought to acquire in trade on draft day this year, and Chargers backup Michael Turner. Turner, though, is a restricted free agent, and it seems unlikely that the Chargers will let him walk.

Mr. Sensitivity

If Joey Porter played for any other team, I would hate him. He represents much of what I think is wrong with the NFL--he is, at least in part, a self-obsessed motormouth--but he also displays the passion that I so admire. I also admire the latest rhetorical flourish in his word-war with Browns' egomaniac Kellen Winslow, Jr. Porter called Winslow a word that journalists won't repeat (faggot?) after last Thursday's game, and yesterday he came out with the perfect apology: he's sorry if he offended anyone except Winslow. It's a beautiful move, because he lands the apology ("I didn't mean to offend nobody...") without blunting the point of his personal attack ("...except Winslow.")

Kellen Winslow declined to comment.

When a Rivalry is not a Rivalry: Steelers 27, Browns 7

Oh, the joy of a late-season frigid Pittsburgh night and a game against the Browns, in which old stories are re-told: stories of Steeler dominance on the defensive and offensive lines, of violent hits and athletic brilliance, enough to make us forget, for a moment, our early season sorrows....

Who would have thought that the Steelers would play one of their best games without five starters? Perhaps we saw last night a glimpse of the Steeler future: a bright one. In the absence (due to injury) of both starting wide receivers, up stepped Nate Washington and Santonio Holmes. In the absence of both starting safeties (again due to injury), up stepped journeyman Tyrone Carter and future star Anthony Smith. In the absence (not due to injury) of Ike Taylor, up stepped Bryant McFadden, who appears to have solidified his position in the starting lineup for years to come. Oh, hope for the future.

Three who looked good:
Big Ben completed only 11 passes in 21 attempts, but threw for 225 yards and a beautiful long touchdown pass to Nate Washington. No passes were intercpeted, and none were nearly intercepted; a few drops, a few near-misses hurt his percentage, but I doubt Ben cares. He looked great.

The offensive line, perhaps suddenly aware that their jobs are now in jeopardy, played like last year's line, dominating the line of scrimmage and opening huge holes for Willie Parker (more below). Jeff Hartings' peel-back block on Kamerion Wimbley was a thing of beauty, and it seemed to stand for the whole of the game: the Browns, harmlessly minding their own business, were blindsided last night.

And Willie Parker. Despite a fumble, he had a game for the ages: 223 yards on 32 carries and a TD. (That's two yards fewer than Big Ben passed for, if you're scoring at home.) Willie was explosive, fast, and powerful, unafraid to squeeze through a tiny hole or challenge a tackler head-on. Pundits like to say that the Steelers need a Bettis-like runner, a hammerhead to get the tough yards inside, but who doesn't? 280-pound tailbacks aren't common, and Willie is finding his way.

Three more who looked good:

Anthony Smith hits like a train.

Santonio Holmes looked like the veteran he will soon be: he was effective in punt returns; he made a great leaping grab, and totaled 81 yards on 4 catches (that's over 20 yards per, if you're scoring at home); and, perhaps most impressively, he beat the rush to recover a fumble by Najeh Davenport. He looked quick, confident, and instinctive. Cedric Wilson was seen on the sideline updating his resume.

The Steelers run defense held the Browns to a total of 18 yards rushing. The leading rusher for Cleveland was Reuben Droughns, who gained six yards on five carries. The Steelers, by comparison, rushed for 303 yards (and that includes Charlie Batch's kneeldowns). Let's put it this way: Pittsburgh outrushed Cleveland by a factor of nearly 17. (If you're scoring at home.)

Three who looked bad:

I was surprised and disappointed to see the Steelers' defense record no sacks on first-time starter Derek Anderson (who, by the way, was Cleveland's "One who looked good"). The Browns worked hard to stop the blitz, and the Steelers missed Polamalu.

The secondary gave up only one big play--a 45-yard catch-and-run to Braylon Edwards in garbage time--but they couldn't stop Derek Anderson without the help of Dennis Northcutt and the rest of that stone-handed receiving corps.

Chris Gardocki stinks. Somewhere, Mike Barr doesn't know whether to laugh or cry.

One more who looked bad:

The NFL Network coverage. Chris Collinsworth has his Madden-like moments of demented wisdom and humor, but his is more often an insipid gasbag. Bryant Gumbel called the game as though he were afraid to wake a sleeping infant. Steve Mariucci is a solid analyst, but Deion Sanders is a mo-ron.

What it all means:

The Steelers are one game below .500, heading into next Sunday's contest against the suddenly vulnerable Carolina Pantyliners. I'm sure the home team will be favored, but the Steelers should present a real threat. Hopefully, this two-game winning streak against the league's JV squads will build some confidence. An 8-8 finish is now a distinct possibility.

Don't bother with the playoff miracle talk, though. This team is playing for next year, which is reason enough to root for them to play hard.