Beer We Go Steelers

The Patriots beat the Ravens for the AFC Championship.

I will do the final season report during the week. I figured I should do something constructive v. stealing George’s Patriots flag again while I am watching the games.

Here is my final Report Card for the 2011 Season.

GRADES:

Coaching: A, Mike Tomlin won double digits for the fourth time in five years and avoided a Super Bowl hangover by making the playoffs. It would have been easy to rest on his laurels but the Steelers roared back after a horrendous loss to the Ravens and the Texans. He is a great coach, after picking Coach Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin the Rooney’s should be in charge of picking the President. Bruce Arians has retired and I think everyone is frustrated that the Steelers can’t run the ball consistently. That being said his development of Ben Roethlisberger is one of the reasons the Steelers have been a contender every season. He deserves our respect and gratitude. Dick LeBeau is the greatest defensive coordinator in NFL history. The defense despite several key injuries held opponents to the fewest points in the NFL, keep in mind they had 35 dropped on them in week 1! 

QB: A-, Big Ben had a good season putting up more than 4000 yards and throwing for over 21 Touchdowns. He also sustained several injuries but was rarely sidelined. He is as tough as anyone in the NFL and played in Cleveland after getting his lower leg nearly ripped off. The downside, he turned the ball over 21 times, none more costly than on the last drive of the Broncos game. He still is the QB I would want and we at BWG believe in him! Charlie Batch does what he does, he wins in short doses when called upon. If this is his last season with the Steelers I will remember him as a great contributor who did what was needed!

RB: C-, It was a disappointing season for Rashard Mendenhall and when he finally got on track it ended with a serious knee injury. His numbers were respectable, but it was probably the worst season of his career. Ike Redman was outstanding and will push for playing time next season. Mewelde Moore did a nice job and so did Dwyer and Clay when they did spot duty.

WR: A, It was a great season for the wide receivers as Manny Sanders and Antonio Brown emerged as bona fide threats. Mike Wallace was awesome at the beginning but eventually slowed down. Hines Ward was slowed by injuries and was eventually phased out of the offense. He did get his 1000th catch. He is truly a great Steeler!

TE: A, Heath Miller continued to be a great threat and played his best game in Denver.  He is one of the best in the game, Wesley Saunders has developed nicely and was a nice pickup. Dave Johnson played well as a great H-Back and was excellent as a blocker when called upon! (which wasn’t often enough)

OL: D-, It was a terrible season for the offensive line. At one point or another every player was injured and they never got the running push that was needed. The protection was brutal, as Ben was nailed 40 times! Several players had good flashes, but no one was consistent, except for Maurkice Pouncey who was excellent but for the second season in a row missed the biggest game of the year.

DL: B+, It was a very good season for the defensive line that lost several of it’s key players. Aaron Smith appears to be done for his career and he was an awesome Steeler. Casey Hampton, when healthy was an elite run stopper and he too appears to be in the twilight of a great Steeler career. Brett Kiesel played his best season, which is saying something. Ziggy Hood and “Steelhead” Heywood have begun to develop and the future is bright for this unit.

LB: B-, The strength of this team, was crushed by injuries. Silverback and LaMarr Woodley only played together four times all season. James Farrior was inconsistent and is beginning to struggle in coverage. Lawrence Timmons needs to be more in control of his pace of play. If healthy this is the best group in the NFL. They also have great looking prospects in Worilds and Sylvester.

DB: A, This would have been an A+ but the Denver debacle kind of soured a great season. That being said the numbers speak for themselves. The Steelers secondary had a great season and again have young exciting talent that is beginning to develop. Ike Taylor played excellent all season until he was torched in Denver. Ryan Clark played his best season as a Steeler. Troy played well and was a huge factor in several games. Keenan Lewis will be a starter next season!

BEER WE GO STEELERS! BEER WE GO!

While this blog is a Steelers Blog, I wanted to take a second and mention the passing of Joe Paterno. He was a college icon and despite the scandal, still is someone who deserves our respect. I believe he was completely railroaded during this circus at State College. I don’t agree with how he handled the situation but that doesn’t tarnish what he has done for 60 years.

The media is a bunch of hypocrites and that is one of the reasons I started this blog.

“I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Paterno,” Bush said. “He was an outstanding American who was respected not only on the field of play but in life generally — and he was, without a doubt, a true icon in the world of sports. I was proud that he was a friend of mine. Barbara and I send our condolences to his devoted wife Suzanne and to his wonderful family.” – George H.W. Bush

By Hailey “Little Miss Tailgate” a Ten Year Old Steelers fan!

So that’s it, it’s over for the Steelers!

Every time the Steelers played it was kind of like Tebow magic but it was Steeler magic.

Every week the Steelers advanced more and more to me, this was a very good season for the Steelers.

Every Steeler player did better and better each week.

Rashard Mendenhall did a lot this year before he got hurt. In Madden, I would complain why Mendenhal always had to be in then I realized he is not so bad after all.

THE BIG BEN!!!!!!!!!!!!! What can I say he is fantastic QB! At the final game Ben played great all day but the Denver Broncos brought it in strong ,then they went into OT and Broncos won. Dang it!

That’s it for Hines, I think he is retiring. Too bad he was one of my favorites. On DWTS his background with football really paid off.  I think he was very good.

LET’S GO WOODLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Speaking of the fact that’s KGBs favorite player he was very good this year too when he wasn’t hurt.

How about Silverback!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My first time at the Steelers and Silverback was the main character, playing his best game.

So the Steelers had the time of their life, this season and they did good, this was the probably my best season ever!

FAREWELL STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Written by

Little Miss Tailgate,

So Tom Janicki, Captain Tailgate and I have some free time on our hands. We will do a roster analysis early next week and hit on some off season moves.

Couple of things:

1. Ike Taylor didn’t lose the game, the Steelers lost the game. He certainly contributed as everyone else on the team did in losing. If it wasn’t for Ike we wouldn’t have been 12-4, don’t forget that.

2. Mike Tomlin is a great coach and he is the only coach I would like to have! One tough playoff loss doesn’t change that! BWG Believes in him 100% and the same goes for Dick Lebeau. The Media is trying to crucify both of them and while it is easy to find fault, the facts tell us a different story. They went 12-4 and lost literally half the team to injuries at one point or another.

3. Kirby Wilson is in for the fight of his life, keep him in your thoughts and prayers. One thing I pray is that Ike Redman’s performance Sunday, some how and some way helped even a little bit to alleviate what he is going through.

4. Hines Ward still has gas in the tank and I hope he is back with the Steelers next year! He can still get it done, don’t give up on Hines.

5. At some point this week, I am going to steal my neighbor George’s Patriots Flag. While this probably lacks maturity for me and I can clearly be called a sore loser, I feel I need to do it. I wanted to beat the Patriots so bad this year and felt we were on our way. I will of course return it after the playoffs. This is a solo mission and is not endorsed by Beer We Go Steelers if I am caught! (BTW there will be pictures)

My children took the loss almost as hard as we did. Saturday night I am going to see Professional Wrestling with my sons Dante and Luciano, I will miss the Patriots game(So will George’s flag) but I am hoping Tim Tebow upends the Pats. My daughter Hailey and my GF KGB are going to see Beauty and the Beast. The Offseason will be long for all of us.

We are pulling for the NY Giants, they embody family ownership and are like the Steelers of the NFC, they are my home town team also. (Sort of)

We are going to publish every week, so stay tuned and don’t give up BWG Nation. It is only 7 months until training camps open!

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

The Denver Broncos upset the defending AFC Champions in a wild shoot out in Denver. When Demrayius Thomas flew by Ike Taylor in overtime to send the Steelers home from the playoffs, it wasn’t just the end of the Steelers playoff hopes; it was the end of an era. The play marked the quickest overtime defeat in the history of the NFL. The loss kept the Steelers from their 34th playoff win, which would have broken a tie with the Cowboys for the most ever.

The Steelers defense had its worst day since the beginning of the season. For the first time in ten seasons the Steelers let up two plays of more than fifty yards in one game. Few people expected Tim Tebow who was in a three game swoon to come out firing. He did and the Steelers number one pass defense was shredded for over 300 yards for the first time this season.

Ike Taylor, who had a fine season, played by far the worst game of his career and the secondary couldn’t hold up in man to man coverage. Ryan Mundy and Troy Polamalu played close to support the run and Tebow took advantage. The linebackers had a tough day as well, the pass rush was virtually non-existent, LaMarr and Silverback were non factors throughout the game. Silverback was flagged for a nonsense penalty and struggled against the option play.

As bad as both the secondary and the linebackers played, at least they didn’t go down with injuries. The Steelers lost 2/3 of the defensive line within the first half. Casey Hampton and Brett Kiesel both went down with serious injuries. Cameron Heywood and Steve McLendon both played well but were clearly wearing down. Heyward had a big forced fumble to create a turnover that the Steelers turned into the tying touchdown.

The Offense played an inconsistent, albeit spirited game. The receivers had an up and down game. Manny Sanders and Antonio Brown put together nice performances and had several big catches in the game. Mike Wallace ran an amazing end around to score a big TD and was RIPPED off on a 50 yard catch. Jericho Cotchery made the game tying catch after a huge drop. Hines Ward was a non factor.

The Offensive line held up well considering they were missing Maurkice Pouncey and lost Max Starks in the 3rd. Doug Legursky, who was filling in for Pouncey made a costly mistake and cost the Steelers points in the first half, but he held his own and put together a good game otherwise. They made holes for Ike Redman who was the lone highlight of the day for the Steelers. He had a great game and will push for playing time next year.

Ben Roethlisberger did what Ben Roethlisberger does. He played hurt and made some huge plays and brought the team all the way back. The down side he had a costly turnover and his clock management was terrible at the end of the game. He also had a costly fumble, which he recovered, but it might have cost the Steelers the game.

Tim Tebow deserves a great deal of credit. The Steelers challenged him and he punished them for it. He is a polarizing figure but one thing is certain, he is a gentleman and he is a tank when he runs. He played and amazing game and helped his team win. The Steelers smacked up the Broncos defense and Tebow carried them through the game. When he had to make a play, he made it! You can say what you want about the guy, he is a class act and a credit to the game.  

It would be easy to criticize the coaching as the media has done since Sunday. In the end though, the Steelers came in with a game plan that everyone believed in. The Steelers made several costly mistakes in their execution.  In the coaches defense, you are missing, the starting Free Safety, the starting Center, the starting Left Tackle, the Starting Nose Tackle and his backup, your missing your best Defensive End and your QB is banged up pretty bad and you damn near pull it out when you are down by 14 in someone elses building.  

 Chalk it up to Tim Tebow and the Broncos played the game they needed to, to win, The Steelers simply didn’t.  

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Ike Redman, He needed to play big yesterday and he did it! Also Considered: NO ONE, seriously it was rough. 

Where I watched the game: Finished out the string at KGB’s with my kids who were crushed by the loss. I made sausage and peppers and we had a ton of food as usual. It was my home base this season for most games and I will miss it next year when we move on! The Beer of choice was IC Light. 

My thoughts on Next Week: I AM GOING TO MISS THE STEELERS! I will be pulling for the NY Giants over the Packers and the Broncos over the Evil Patriots!

This guy I met told me he loves Tim Tebow but likes the Steelers better:

Maurkice Pouncey is most likely out for Sunday. Pouncey has aggravated his left ankle and will be out for sundays game. Doug Legursky will be back at Center and that opens up the door for Trai Essex at left guard or Chris K. Either way it is a big loss going into the playoffs. The offensive line has not started the same five guys more than two weeks in a row.

We are asking everyone to say a prayer for Kirby Wilson, Steelers running back coach. Mr. Wilson was injured “seriously” in a fire and has burns on 30 percent to 50 percent of his body, and the injuries are considered serious but not life threatening.

Here is an excerpt from the Steelers Media Guide:

Kirby Wilson is in his fifth season as the Steelers’ running backs coach.
Wilson, who was hired on Jan. 29, 2007, came to Pittsburgh with 19 years of
coaching experience at both the collegiate and professional levels.

Wilson, 49, carried the momentum into 2010 as Rashard Mendenhall set a
career-high 1,273 rushing yards, ranking him seventh in the NFL and marked his
second consecutive season with over 1,000 yards on the ground. Mendenhall had
three 100-yard games and a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns.

In 2009, Wilson was instrumental in Mendenhall’s breakout season as he posted
his first career 1,000-yard rushing season with 1,108 yards on the year. He rushed
242 times with a team-high seven rushing touchdowns. In 2007, Wilson helped
Willie Parker earn his second consecutive Pro Bowl and led the NFL in rushing
through the first 16 weeks before he broke his leg in the second-to-last game of
the season.

Prior to the Steelers, Wilson coached the running backs for the Arizona Cardinals
(2004-06) after spending two seasons as running backs coach with the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers (2002-03).

The Steelers will face the Denver Broncos on Saturday for the 7th time in the playoffs. That is the most times they have faced any team in the Post Season. 

Here it is by the numbers:

Steelers are 10 wins against 16 losses with 1 Tie (In 1974 http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409220den.htm)

They are 5-9-1 in the Mile High City and are 3 and 3 against the Broncos in the playoffs!

Denver 34 – Steelers 21 @Denver 12/24/77

Their first meeting was on Christmas Eve 12/24/1977 in Denver. The Broncos won a 34-21 shootout with the Broncos scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter. A pair of fourth-quarter field goals by Jim Turner broke a 21-21 tie, and Craig Morton threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jack Dolbin to send Denver to their first AFC Championship Game against the Raiders. They would win and lose to Dallas in the Super Bowl.

Terry Bradshaw turned the ball over 3 times, twice being picked off by Tom Jackson. (Now of ESPN fame) The local papers in Denver had described this game as the “Passing of the Torch” from the Steel Curtain to the Orange Crush! It was; if you don’t count Super Bowl victories and what happened the next year!

The box score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197712240den.htm

Steelers 33 – Denver 10 @Pittsburgh 12/30/78

In a rematch of the 1977 showdown the Steelers unloaded and routed the Broncos. Franco Harris and John Stallworth, turned in recordbreaking performances to carry the Steelers into the AFC title game with a 33-10 rout of the Denver Broncos. Harris, a six-time 1,000-yard rusher, set an NFL record of 12 career playoff touchdowns by scoring on runs of one and 18 yards. Stallworth, set a then division playoff record with 10 receptions for 156 yards, Including a leaping 46-yard TD grab in the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach.

Terry Bradshaw redeemed his poor play from the year before and lit up the Broncos for 272 yards! 

“Terry Bradshuw was incredible. We knew if he got hot we’d be in trouble. And he got hot,” said Lyle Alzado, the Broncos Defensive End after the game.

* Side note the same day Woody Hayes was fired from Ohio State for punching a Clemson player!

The box score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197812300pit.htm

Steelers 24 – Denver 17 @Denver 12/30/84

Six years to the day from their last playoff meeting the Steelers battled the Broncos again with a trip to the AFC championship on the line. The game plan was to run the ball and keep pressure on Future Hall of Famer John Elway. This was one of Chuck Nolls greatest performances as a coach.  Frank Pollard rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns, and Walter Abercrombie added 75 yards. The Steeler defense sacked Elway four times and intercepted him twice, including safety Eric Williams’ 28-yard return that set up Pollard’s clinching score with 1:59 remaining to give the Steelers the victory!

The Steelers would move onto the AFC Championship but would get mowed down by Dan Marino and the Dolphins. This would mark the last Steelers playoff appearance for 5 years.

Box Score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198412300den.htm

Denver 24 – Steelers 23 @Denver 1/7/90

In what was the most unlikely Steelers playoff team of all time, they started the season with two losses getting crushed 92-10! The Steelers met the Broncos, after a huge upset victory over the Houston Oilers and their big mouth, moron coach Jerry Glanville.

Steelers, who had a league-low 251-yard-per-game average in the regular season gained 404 against the Broncos, who allowed the league’s fewest points. Bubby Brister matched Elway pass for pass — he was 19 of 29 for 229 yards and threw a 9-yard TD to Louis Lipps. Elway was 12 of 20 for 226 and scrambled for 44 more and threw an interception. Merril Hoge put up 180 yards including a bruising 120 on the ground.

The game slipped away in the fourth when Elway took the Broncos 71 yards in nine plays, capped by Mel Bratton’s 1-yard g o-a h e a d touchdown. Any hope for a victory vanished when Bubby Brister bobbled a snap from backup center Chuck Lanza, (Who filled in for ONE PLAY) it was recovered on the Pittsburgh 18 by Denver defensive back Randy Robbins.

Brister for all his shortcomings was a fiery player and played this game with such heart. While the loss was rough, this defense was the beginning of the Cowher Dynasty.

Box Score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199001070den.htm

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES:

Denver 24 – Steelers 21  @Pittsburgh 1/11/98

Winning his rubber match playoff game against the Steelers, John Elway threw two touchdown passes in the final minutes of the first half and the Broncos held off turnover-ridden Kordell Stewart 24-21 in the AFC championship game. Up to that point, no NFL quarterback had won more games or led more comebacks than the 37-year-old Elway. It was vindication for Elway who would win his first of two Super Bowls, by beating the heavily favored Green Bay Packers.  

Kordell Stewart was awful and he was exposed in the game, he went 18-of-36 for 201 yards, with a TD but was responsible for all 4 of Pittsburgh’s turnovers. Yancey Thigpen had six catches for 92 yards. Jerome Bettis put up great numbers running the ball for 105 yards and a TD.

The Steelers lost the Championship game at home for the second time in four years. What I learned from these experiences, was that if you bring the better QB to the game, you have a good chance at winning. It isn’t always the case but it certainly plays out that way quite a bit. Elway was proof of that, it would also manifest itself the next time they would meet in the playoffs. 

Box Score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199801110pit.htm

Steelers 34 – Denver 17 @Denver 1/22/06

Coach Cowher received vindication as the Steelers, who previously upset the Colts the week before, marched into Denver and jumped the Broncos. Big Ben Roethlisberger, was a second year quarterback who played like a seasoned veteran, completing 21 of 29 passes and kept the Steelers going on six of seven crucial third-down situations in the first half. He also rushed for a touchdown that sealed the game in the fourth quarter!

This time the Steelers played with the better Quarterback and it rang true as Jake Plummer turned the ball over twice and never got going in the game. The Broncos were down 24-3 at the half and never recovered.

The Steelers became the first team since the 1985 Patriots to win three postseason road games en route to the Super Bowl. They beat the Seahawks of course and won their six title!

Box Score: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200601220den.htm

Chad Spann: Height: 5′-9″ Weight: 198 

2010: Started all 14 games at tailback for the Huskies. Led the MAC and ranked 20th nationally in rushing yards with 1,388. Averaged 99.1 yards per game. Led the league and tied for fourth nationally in scoring with 132 points, an average of 9.4 per game. Led the Football Bowl Subdivision with 22 rushing touchdowns to break the NIU single season record. His 132 points is the most points ever scored in a season at NIU. Won the 2010 Vern Smith Leadership Award as the most valuable player in the Mid-American Conference as voted on by league coaches. Also named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. A consensus first-team All-MAC selection and was also named the MAC MVP and Offensive Player of the Year by rivals.com. Recorded six 100-yard rushing games and scored at least one rushing touchdown in 11 straight games. Eight of his runs went for 25 yards or longer with the longest a 79-yard effort versus North Dakota (9-11). Finished the North Dakota game with 140 yards on 21 carries. Named Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and MAC West Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a career-high 223 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries at Minnesota (9-25). Rushed for 80 yards on 17 carries and added 14 yards on three receptions in the season opener at Iowa State (9-2). Earned NIU’s Co-Big Hit of the week after rushing 24 times for 100 yards against Temple (10-9), beginning a string of four straight 100-yard performances. Posted a career-high in carries with 31 for 111 yards and scored two touchdowns versus Buffalo (10-16). Totaled 101 yards on 23 carries with three rushing scores. Recorded his sixth 100-yard game of the season and 10th of his career versus Western Michigan (10-30). Tallied a career-best three rushing touchdowns against both Toledo (11-9) and Ball State (11-20). Rushed for 88 yards on seven carries and scored two touchdowns, while playing only the first half at Eastern Michigan (11-26). Finished the season rushing for 95 yards and two scores on 15 carries against Fresno State in the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl (12-18).

From: http://www.niuhuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/spann_chad01.html