cool tattoo work.................
dont let this dude near the middle schools!
Oh Yeahhhhhhh!
A win is a win is a win in the NFL. The Steelers were actually 2 point underdogs at home to the Falcons yesterday but prevailed after the third straight overtime game against Atlanta. There were some things to worry about from this game for sure. The first of which is the health of two key lineman. Max Starks left the game with what appeared to be a high ankle sprain. This offensive line came into this season as a weakness. Losing Willie Colon for the year in training camp did not help. Losing Max Starks for any length of time will be tough for the black and gold. Also "Big Snack" Hampton left the game with a hamstring problem. I think the problem is that his hamstrings have to hold up 350 + pounds!! Hoke is a great back up, but losing Hampton would diminish the depth on the line and the freshness that rotating those players brings......Also, Dixon who threw one pick, could have thrown four, and looked very much like Kordell lite.........The Steelers could not score a touchdown during regulation against a defense that was 28th in the league last season. Randle El looked ineffective returning punts, and Jeff Reed missed two field goals, including a very makeable one that should have won the game in regulation.
There were plenty of positives, not the least of which is the fact that the monster game of Timmons, if it is indeed the start of his breakout year could be indicative of a DOMINANT linebacking corps, the likes of which have not been seen in awhile. Hines Ward played a great game and was a true leader on the field, even if he is a blowhard off of it. McFadden and Taylor played well in the secondary and Polamalu made a Polamalu play with the game on the line, that should have resulted in a regulation win. Mendenhall kept plugging away despite running into 8 man fronts all day, and ultimately gashed the Falcons for the game winner.
That said, the thing that I took away from this game that is most encouraging is this..........this is a game in which the Steelers were resilient and FOUND a way to WIN, despite many mistakes........this game would have been LOST by last years version of the black and gold. Last year if Atanta did not drive the field at the end of regulation to win, they sure would have scored on the opening possession of OT, after Reed's missed FG. Instead, the defense held in OT, and Mendenhall to it to the Hizzy on the first play from scrimmage for the Steelers in OT. Perhaps the bitter embarrassment of the stretch run last season, and the emergence of guys like Wallace, Timmons, and Pouncey will be enough for this team to surprise the experts. Time will tell!
There were plenty of positives, not the least of which is the fact that the monster game of Timmons, if it is indeed the start of his breakout year could be indicative of a DOMINANT linebacking corps, the likes of which have not been seen in awhile. Hines Ward played a great game and was a true leader on the field, even if he is a blowhard off of it. McFadden and Taylor played well in the secondary and Polamalu made a Polamalu play with the game on the line, that should have resulted in a regulation win. Mendenhall kept plugging away despite running into 8 man fronts all day, and ultimately gashed the Falcons for the game winner.
That said, the thing that I took away from this game that is most encouraging is this..........this is a game in which the Steelers were resilient and FOUND a way to WIN, despite many mistakes........this game would have been LOST by last years version of the black and gold. Last year if Atanta did not drive the field at the end of regulation to win, they sure would have scored on the opening possession of OT, after Reed's missed FG. Instead, the defense held in OT, and Mendenhall to it to the Hizzy on the first play from scrimmage for the Steelers in OT. Perhaps the bitter embarrassment of the stretch run last season, and the emergence of guys like Wallace, Timmons, and Pouncey will be enough for this team to surprise the experts. Time will tell!
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