Beer We Go Steelers

 The Steelers rebounded nicely, with a 24-0 drubbing of the Seattle Seahawks. This week everyone can breathe a little easier. While not every question was answered, the Steelers played a very crisp and complete game. It certainly wasn’t a “redemption” game; it was the Steelers showing what they are capable of doing.

The first thing that sticks out was the play of Ben Roethlisberger. After the worst start in probably his entire career, Ben struggled early, misfiring on several passes then got it going. It was his 100th career start and his 70th win. He is, simply put, the toughest QB in the NFL. After getting his knee drilled into during the game, not once, but twice, he still managed to throw for a shade under 300 yards! You hear all this talk about other QB’s being better, but NO ONE would have done what Ben did. He is a great Steeler!

The Wide Receivers are just plain awesome. Everybody plays a part and they all do their respective parts well. You could trust Hines Ward to catch artillery. He made the best catch of the day, by managing to keep both feet in bounds while making a 15-yard catch on third down and proved despite the moron media, he is still one of the best. He also crushed Earl Thomas to spring Rashard Mendenhall. Manny Sanders played a great game with two very big catches and he threw a nifty pass, which looked terrific. Antonio Brown is continuing to emerge as bona fide superstar, as he gave the Seattle defense fits all day. And lastly, Mike Wallace, is just an absolute force, his play continues to get better and better as he contributed with 100 yards.

The running game did okay, Mendenhall, despite not having great stats, had a very good game. He is starting to show better footwork and made some great plays. Ike Redman really is showing signs of life and they make this one of the strengths of the team.

The defense played a very well coached game, despite what the announcers thought. It was obvious that the Steelers coaching had a great strategy. They kept the Seahawks in check for the whole game, never blitzing. Then they unleashed the dogs and the Steelers just dominated Tavaris Jackson and the Seahawks line, ensuring the shutout. The front seven played great and crushed the Seattle running game. The Defense backfield did a solid job shutting down the pass. It was a thoroughly dominant day. By the way, Troy Polamalu isn’t slow or old, he played terrific and made some nice stops.

The Offensive line did a respectable job. Marcus Gilbert was seriously burned for one sack off the corner but rebounded nicely for a very good game. Ramon Foster played well in the left guard spot including an outstanding pull that leveled THREE guys for the Seahawks. Jonathon Scott is not the long term answer at Left Tackle but held his own for most of the game. Maurkice played his usual stellar game and busted up the Seattle front. Legursky had a respectable game but missed a huge block when he went in as fullback. All and all, Ben wasn’t picking himself up all game so it was a good job. They still lack that knockout punch up front and couldn’t get a key push to start the game, but it is a start.

It is on to Indy! I will be reporting from Saratoga next week and watching the game at the Stadium bar!

BEER WE GO STEELERS! BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Big Ben Roethlisberger, is my Game Beer player! Both the Captain and I are in agreement. We are proud to have him as our QB and our team Captain. Mike Wallace easily could be the choice as well. It was a great day all around

Where I watched the game: At my girlfriend’s KGB for a quiet afternoon. I was a less than cordial host last week, so took it easy this week. Had great snacks and drank Spaten beer! The Captain was in attendance at the ‘Burgh and tailgated at our usual spot!

My thoughts on Next Week: This was a five star matchup until Peyton got hurt. The Steelers will win if they play like they did yesterday. The Colts are very dangerous though and beware of a home team that is on the ropes. I am watching their film today.  

It’s One Game!!  Last time I checked, a game does not make a season…A series of games does.  In this case, we ALL know that the team that took the field in Baltimore wearing the Black and Gold was an anomaly and WILL not be viewed again for quite some time.  We will not and should not press the Panick button.  We ARE a better team than we showed on Sunday.  Further to this point, we have had worse games than this one in the recent past and we always seem to bounce back.  If you are one of those panicking types it’s a good thing that you are a Steelers fan because you may be a bit spoiled and this LOW may seem way worse than it actually is.  I think that a “BWG” Top Ten “shit the bed” games over the past 10 years should be documented (hint to the President).  This was an away game in the NFL in which we were an underdog going in.  We expect to win but we are realistic that loses are going to occur.  Real Champions are formed through adversity and difficulties.  The Pittsburgh Steelers are Real Champions!

With that said, WE ARE FINE.  I feel bad for Seattle as they are traveling into a world of hurt Sunday.  We will not take this performance lying down and the only way to get up off the mat is to spend a few extra hours before kickoff lamenting (and drinking down) all the positives that we may be forgetting after taking that beating at the hands of our rival.  I, for one, may have to start the night before and make this a Mighty All Nighty in the parking lots!!  Anybody IN?  regardless of if you need sleep or not, I will be available before the game if you are looking for debauchery and a positive atmosphere, you will need to look no further than Kail’s parking lot across from the casino…Come One, Come All as we will be bringing the pain and will need a few hours on pregame to get the juices flowing!!

As if the drubbing by the a-hole Rat-Birds wasn’t enough, the PPG is reporting that Willie Colon tore his tricep ending his season again. This marks the second season in a row where Colon was out for the year early. I personally have a soft spot for Colon because he is a native New Yorker and went to college on Long Island at Hofstra. He is also a huge Yankee fan. This marks a serious blow to an O-line that has had serious issues already.

Here is Beer We Go’s take: I would start Marcus Gilbert (6′, 6″ 330) and promote Trevis Turner (6′, 7″ 330) off the practice squad. Gilbert looks like he is proficient and in the NFL, it is the next man up. Turner is a development project but an absolute monster in size and athleticism. They have Chris Scott and Trai Essex with more experience but I think both will be a decent stop gaps but not long term solution. Turner and Gilbert can be long term solutions. 

I also wouldn’t mind seeing Keith Williams get another shot at the team, playing the backup at the Guard spots and using Scott as the backup tackle. 

What is likely to happen is the Steelers will look to Flozel or Max Starks, to get off the couch and come back and try and make the team. While both are respectable short term solutions, neither is a long term solution.

The Steelers took a horrendous whipping yesterday at the hand of the hated Rat Birds. It was a horrendous loss and for the first time in a long time the Steelers looked slow and old. 

Some disturbing facts; James Farrior had his worse game as a Steeler and was out of position on both running play and pass plays, Silverback looked tired and injured after a wicked yank down. The fears about the Cornerback position after a nice preseason were brought back into the present. The Offensive line woes look worse than imagined. Both Rashard and the usually sure handed Mewelde fumbled!

It is hard to imagine the game getting any worse.But it did, Big Ben, just looked scattered and scared the whole game. He was plain terrible and you would be hard pressed to find a worst start in his 100 games as a pro. The Steelers actually moved the ball fairly well but turned it over SEVEN times!!! There is no formula for success turning the ball over seven times.

That being said, Beer We Go is not the panicking type. The Steelers would have made a game of it if they held onto the football yesterday. That is a huge “if” but it is still a fact. Reviewing the schedule the Steelers should go at least 2-2 in the first four, with Peyton out they could go 3-1. Jumping ship on week one is just ludicrous, so no one pull the rip cord yet.  

The Steelers are going to get a worse ass whipping this week from Coach Tomlin. That simply isn’t Steeler football. This team is way too talented to lose in that fashion, Coach Tomlin is going to seriously light them up.

BEER WE GO STEELERS! BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: This game was so lousy I am going with the freakin’ punter. Dan Sepulveda averaged 52.8 yards per punt and looked great. Considered were Mike Wallace, who had several catches and Antonio Brown who looks like a legit kick return threat as well as a solid receiver.

Where I watched the game: At my girlfriend’s KGB. Ordered Domino’s pizza and wings from a bar, my football teammate, fellow O-Lineman and good friend Matt, brought Yuengling in honor of Pa. It didn’t work out. I turned the living room into a remote control throwing extravaganza.

The only good news is that my own football team won yesterday in the morning. I wrote several posts about out of shape lineman, after playing yesterday that might have been ironic!

My thoughts on Next Week: It is hard to imagine the Steelers playing worse. Usually I preview the other team with NFL Sunday ticket shortcuts. I couldn’t bring myself to watch football after the Steelers game. The Steelers need to play better, that is an understatement but so be it.

This is an exciting week as we get ready for the first game of the year. We will have a full season preview as well as a roster recap.

Stay tuned and Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go.

The Steelers today named Doug Legursky as their starting right guard. Legursky is the backup center and did an excellent job last year. Sean Kugler recognized the fact that while he is their smallest lineman, he is also their smartest and most polished.

Since the departure of Kendall Simmons the position has been a revolving door. Last season Ramon Foster and Trai Essex held down the job. Legursky did better than both and is a hard worker who gets it done!

Sean Kugler, who is a BWG folk hero for the job he has done, is putting the five best OL up front, which hopefully will solidify the right side of the line. With Pouncey, Legursky and Colon the projection looks good at both run blocking and pass blocking.  

Legursky was a three-time All-Conference USA selection and started the final 32 games for the Thundering Herd of Marshall. Legursky holds the Thundering Herd weight room record for squatting 705 pounds! He signed with the Steelers as a rookie free agent and went to the practice squad in 2008. He worked out with the team for the entire offseason and made the roster the following year. Besides his great strength he is very athletic running the 40 in 4.9. He has filled in at fullback and Center for the Steelers.

…about preseason is not to get HURT! The Steelers failed pretty bad this week at that. The Black and Gold were dropping like flies against the Atlanta Falcons.

Byron Leftwich broke his arm and looks like he will miss some serious time. The only good news is that it wasn’t his throwing arm. Early reports are that he might comeback later in the year, I wouldn’t bet on it. With some veterans needing to go, this basically saves Charlie Batch or Dennis Dixon from the “turk”! The Steelers are pretty set at QB so while the injury stinks for Leftwich it isn’t damaging for the season. Batch can win in a pinch as he proved last season, Dixon has tremendous upside and is exciting to watch, so we will see how it plays out.

The injury that is just awful is Maurkice Pouncey. Pouncey’s injury could keep him out for the opener against the Rat-Bird Ravens. The O-line which is pretty horrible just got worse without its best player. I thought the Steelers best combination up front was the opening combo of Gilbert at Left Tackle, Kemoeatu Left Guard, Pouncey Center, Legursky Right Guard, Colon Right Tackle. Legursky is a very good backup and Tony Hills will move to Right Guard. Of course Sean Kugler did a great job last season, so BWG nation have some faith.

Also taking a dive was Keenan Lewis who played pretty well and is seriously pushing for a starting spot. Lewis is in the make it or break it year and seems to be responding well.

The good news is Antonio Brown lit it up. He is an electrifying player and opposite Wallace gives the Steelers two big play guys. Of course Hines Ward just flat out plays. He made a spectacular catch and doesn’t show signs of slowing down.

The game was a complete effort as the Steelers played well on both sides of the ball. Living in New York I had to deal with the Hurricane and on top of that I couldn’t watch the game until Sunday on NFL network. I avoided the Internet and Captain Tailgate as to not spoil the ending! The NFL network while the GAME WAS ON, announced that the Steelers won. WTF!!! Only one more week until this is for real!

With the offensive line looking putrid these days the Steelers decided to bring back Trai Essex. Essex has been a capable backup but with the lockout and his marriage was woefully out of shape. The Steelers need some depth and Essex can bring that, he has spent the last six weeks getting in shape and losing some weight. He is ready to compete for a job in a wide open line.

The Steelers pounded their in state rival Philadelphia Eagles. A week after getting pushed all over the field, the Steelers starters sent a clear message. It was a solid game and the Steelers looked terrific all around.

The good news, the Steelers are loaded at linebacker and that talent was on display. They disrupted the pass and the run and the Eagles had no answers. Larry Foote played a terrific game and he is clearly the front runner to stay with the team inside. It was a great effort by Worldis and Sylvester.

The best news is the secondary looked awesome! They had Michael Vick’s number all night and it was clear, the defense was in synch.

The bad news, the O-line is horrible and Jonathon Scott and Marcus Gilbert were injured.