Random N'@

• Trib's Joe Starkey does a nice summary of Big Ben's top comebacks in his first 50 starts.
• Recchi's fate? He finally sits and the Pens win. If Therrien sticks to his guns, Recchi, Sudor and Armstrong will all sit again tonight vs the Rangers since the Pens won without them in the lineup. Recchi doesn't seem too happy about it:
  

  With a firm shake of his head and a quiet "No," Mark Recchi yesterday declined to talk about being a healthy scratch Thursday night for the Penguins' 3-2 win over the New York Islanders, which snapped a four-game losing streak.

• Hines may not be wrong, but he may be wrong if you ask him which 70s team had the best offense. Most people think the 78 team was the best because they began to throw the ball better and could still run well. But the point of offense is to score points and it is the 75 team that scored the most points in a season, in two less games than the 78 team played. The 75 team was an explosive squad that many people overlook.
• A few days ago, Empty Netters had this post about Sid and Geno's offensive contribution to the Pens being the highest of any two teammates. This was before the Isles game, it would be nice to see an updated table to include Big George's contributions.
  

More Reason to Hate the Pats

Mondesi's House posts an email received from Steeler fan Zane in NYC who had to watch last week's game with a Pats fan. Judging from some of the post-game questions, I don't think this Pats fan is exemplary of all Pats fans, but obviously fans like this do exist:

I was in NYC for business over the past weekend and linked up with the New England rep and his fiancee to watch some football on Sunday. They're Patriot fans. Found out about a Steeler Bar in NYC, Scruffy Duffy's, donned my #36 jersey and headed over. An hour before kickoff, the place is filled with #7, #12, #32, #47, #58, #75, #86...........with more and more by the minute. As game time approaches, the Steeler polka and Here We Go is played. People are singing and my buddy asks me, "Do you know the words to this song?" Of course I do. Game starts and there's passion in the air. Folks are disappointed by the start, but no one has given up. The place is erupting with every key 3rd down pick up and exploding with Ben's touchdown run. After momentarily being silenced by Cribbs' return TD, the place builds up and explodes again with the final TD drive. Final Browns drive. The bar has a wheel that it spins with numbers associated with different plays that will result in a free drink: Interception return for TD, Fumble return for TD. The free drink for the second half was a 50 yard field goal. So as Dawson lines up, a make equals a free drink, and miss equals a victory. Victory is preferred to even a $6 beer and place goes crazy. Here We Go is being blasted again. High five and hugs for people who would be strangers if not for their Steelers garb.

The scene and passion of the past four hours has confused my Patriot friends. As we walk back to our hotel to begin going our seperate ways, the comments I heard were:

- "Why don't we (Patriot fans) have a song?

- "I'm not sure I wouldn't have been rooting for the free beer."

- "Even the girls wear Steeler jerseys. And not those pink ones."

- "You guys (Steeler fans) are crazy."

- "Do you think they have Patriots' bars in other cities?"

I have also come to find out that my buddy bought a Pats #12 jersey on Monday. It's amazing what happens when fans of other teams get a glimpse at the Steeler Nation.

The Doctor Enters the Hall

I remember his first game vividly, it was one of the greatest games I ever attended at the Igloo. Thanksgiving Eve 1987, which back then had an unmatched electricity to them. They were always sellouts, almost like reunions because there were lots of people I knew who were usually at the game, some home from college for the holiday, others looking for a good start to the biggest party night of the year. And in 1987, the electricity was running white hot because the acquisition of Coffey was the first signal that the Pens were serious about making a run for the Cup. Sure they had Mario, but at that point they hadn't even made the playoffs yet and they needed more, and getting Coffey, who had already won three Cups, was the very first step.

I remember when the trade was announced on the news a few days before the game. I was eating dinner with my family and the announcement came over the news. I couldn't eat anymore and was so excited I had to get up from the table. Nobody else at the table understood what this meant, but after following the Pens since the mid to late 70s, this was a sign of change a sign of good times to come. Later, trades would bring Barrasso, Mullen and of course Ulfie and Francis, but PC was the first sign. And on Thanksgiving Eve 1987 we wanted to see him in person.

Sitting in B-17, the game didn't start well vs the Nordiques. Trailing 4-0 in the second period was not the way we envisioned the beginning of our climb to the Cup. But then the Doctor opened up his office and chipped in three assists and the Pens stormed back to win 6-4. It was a magical game on a special night that would be a harbinger of things to come for a long beleaguered franchise and this was it's first step.

Congrats again to PC, #77, The Doctor, and the smoothest skater ever.

Pens issues

Despite their 3-2 win over the Isles tonight, Kevin Allen of USA Today has a good article about the Pens, basically advising everyone to calm down since the Pens are a young team. All this semi-panic reminds me of last year when rumors of Therrien's firing were running rampant before they went on that unbeaten streak.

The part I like most of Allen's column is this:

The most fascinating aspect of the Penguins' struggle is that it provides us the first opportunity to gauge what kind of administrator general manager Ray Shero will be. Because this is his first GM job, we have no history to review.

But my hunch is Shero will be able to walk the fine line between aggressiveness and panic. I believe he will continue to look for scoring wingers, and I believe he will continue to be patient with Fleury. I believe he will be more patient with Fleury than his coach seems to be. I think if Shero believed Fleury needed an older goalie playing beside him, he would have acquired one last summer. The most interesting aspect of the Fleury debate is that it seems like everyone has forgotten that he won 40 games last season at age 21. It also seems like the hockey world has forgotten that Carolina's Cam Ward won the Stanley Cup two years ago, struggled mightily last season, and now is back performing effectively again.

If the Penguins did want to deal Fleury, there would be a long line of suitors, and it's entirely possibly they would feel the aftershocks of that trade for years to come.

Debunking Steeler Myths, Part 1

• The Steelers offense is heavily run oriented and they use the run to set up the pass.
  
  While the Steelers are maintaining a balance of runs vs pass plays, 55% runs vs 45% passes, that is very similar to what they have posted in past years, the difference is when these plays are occurring.
  
  On difference is that in 2007, the Steelers are passing to score TDs instead of running, a significant change from previous years. This year, they are on pace for 39 TD passes and only 11 rushing TDs. In 2006, the ratio was 23 pass/16 rush. In the Super Bowl year of 2005, it was 21/21. In 2004, Ben's rookie year, it was 20 by pass / 16 by run. Even the pass happy Mularkey team of 2003 had a 19/10 TD ratio. In the Super Bowl year of 1995, the ratio was 21/17. It is not a coincidence that they are averaging more points per game, 28.1, then they have at any time since Cowher became coach by over 3 points/game and are 5th in the league in scoring. So while the Steelers remain focused on running the ball, the purpose behind running and passing has changed: in 2007, they are passing to score and running when they have a lead, to chew time and in the second half.
  
  A second difference is how they are getting into position to score those TDs. As JJ Cooper points out on AOL FanHouse, the Steelers have 65 first downs on the ground and 106 in the air. In comparison the Colts have 83 rushing first downs and 117 passing first downs. And as we noted on Monday, the Steelers are the best in the league at converting third downs at 53%. And they have had the 4th most 3rd down plays. As much as it pains me to see them throw the ball or turn to a reverse on 3rd & 2, the Steelers are effectively converting third downs via the pass and staying on the field,a s evidenced by the fact that they lead the league in time of possession. And that means they are keeping drives alive and moving down the field primarily via the pass, and not the run, as many still believe.
  
  
• Big Ben is a game manager only.
  
  After leading the comeback vs the Browns, Ben now has 12 4th quarter game winning drives in his career. And don't forget has game against Denver this year, which could have been very similar to his game vs the Browns. In both games, Ben committed costly turnovers in the first half and then staged second half rallies. Versus the Broncos and down 21-7 at the half, Ben threw 3 TDs in the second half, including 2 in the 4th quarter to tie the game with only 1:16 left. The only difference in that game is that the defense then allowed the Broncos to drive into FG range and the Steelers lost.
  
  Of course, the strongest support for Ben as much more than someone whose task is not to lose the game and let others win is the 2005 playoff run. True, his Super Bowl numbers were not good, but he did make several big plays in that game (including a TD run and a scramble and throw to Hines that set up another) the team would not have been in that game without Ben putting up these numbers in the playoffs:
  -@ Cincy: 14/18; 208 yards; 3 TDs
  -@ Indy: 14/24; 197 yards; 2 TDs; game saving tackle
  -@ Denver: 21/29; 275 yards; 2 pass TDs; 1 rush TD
  
  As Cris Collinsworth said last Sunday night, Ben is off to the greatest start to a career of any QB in history. The current benchmark for that is Dan Marino. But what Ben is being criticized for now (not having to throw 35 times a game to carry his team) is exactly what Dan Marino had to do to help his early Dolphin teams win. And Marino never did earn a Super Bowl win, largely because the rest of his team wasn't good enough and in all probability they weren't good enough because Marino proved he could throw so well that the Dolphins concentrated on getting him tools to work with instead of a good defense or a quality running back. If the Dolphs were good enough Marino wouldn't have thrown 40 times per game and put up the gaudy stats he did.
  
  The last I checked, the object of football is to win and, as has been proven time and again, the formula for winning, with rare exception, is not based solely on throwing the ball. The formula is having a balanced team: run vs pass; offense vs defense. So Ben does not throw the ball 35-40 times per game because that is not the formula to winning, not just the Steelers formula for winning (though they understand that formula as well as any team). Ben wins. He is 41-15 as a pro. Show me a game manager who puts up those numbers.
  
  
  

Steelers as #2 Seed Looking Better

Colts pass rushing terror Dwight Freeney is out for the season.

Steelers starting safety Ryan Clark is out for the season.

Both have been placed on IR.

Without Freeney, much more pressure will be on the Colts secondary. We'll see if they are up to the task. Bob Sanders is, but are the rest of them?

Mad Mike

A couple of interesting bullets in PFW's Audibles this week:

• “Bill Cowher was emotional. Mike Tomlin just gets plain mad. He’s got that intensity. He’s like a baby Chucky (Jon Gruden), but he’s not fake and it’s not all about himself.”

• “The Ravens have really taken on the personality of their head coach — they are all talk. They make excuses. It’s amusing listening to them talk about (Steelers OLB) James Harrison, saying he will never have a game like that again in his life. The guy just kicked the (crap) out of Jonathan Ogden, a future Hall of Famer, and he cannot play? … He looked like he should be wearing an ‘S’ on his chest with the way he was flying around.”

Pens Lose Again; Help On The Way

4 in a row and it's hard to say what has been the worst part of their game:

• Goaltending: Fleury isn't playing because his confidence is low. Not sure how he's supposed to get it back up without playing but Therrien thinks playing Sabo will do it, even if he does let in a cheapy every game and looks like a spinning top whenever he tries to play the puck.
• Scoring: Sid and Geno are exempt here but everyone else please get in line and take your punishment. Literally nobody else has stepped up. Sykora has scored a few and should be playing with Sid all the time. But where are Staal, Christiansen, Rechi, Roberts, Armstrong, and on and on....
• Defense: Orpik has been their best all year. Everyone else looks sloooow and has to rely on slamming the puck off the boards to get it up to the forwards. Even Whitney's breakouts have been turnovers as often as they've connected and he's been prone to some Gonchar like gaffes. Please never mention Whitney and Norris in the same sentence again. Eaton, Scuderi and Sydor all look slow in their end and Gonchar is his maddening self. But help is on the way!! Let the Letang era start!!
  

Good thing Pitt doesn't have QB issues

Ok, we all loved Tyler Palko's enthusiasm and sometimes his play bailed Pitt out of big jams. But he just didn't progress enough from his sophomore year when I was saying that he was a sure fire first round NFL pick. And now that he's gone, the Stull/Smith/Bostick era has gotten off to a rousing start.

But going back to 2005-2006: There was something else going on: nobody wanted to stick it out and be Tyler's backup.

First it was Luke Getsy who transferred from Pitt to Akron after losing the competition and proceeded to put up numbers that outdid Palko's.

Now, out the the Blue (Hens) comes the name of Joe Flacco, who just may be a first round pick in next year's NFL draft after putting some spectacular numbers at Delaware. He has has thrown for 3,040 yards, 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions this season to go with a 70.3 completion percentage.

I mean Joe Flacco? If Getsy and Flacco could do these things, why couldn't Palko, who beat out these two, do the same with a supposedly better team around him? Or was going with Palko really the right choice? Walt Harris and Davey Wannstedt will have to answer to that.

Palko was a Pittsburgh high school star and maybe love of our own was the clincher. But Getsy is also a Burgher and he bolted town as soon as he didn't win the job. Whatever the reason, it would have been nice to have Getsy and/or Flacco available over the last couple of years.

Ben Love

Look out, the love for Big Ben is flowing in! Who would have thought beating the Brownies would earn anyone such praise, but nary a bad word can be heard about Ben. Suddenly he's gone from being a 'game manager' who was surrounded by a good team and who happened to win a Super Bowl, into a legit MVP candidate who may be the 3rd best QB in the NFL.

For those who have been riding high on Ben since he went 13-0 in his rookie season, be prepared for a crowded bandwagon the rest of the way, they are all jumping on:

• Don Banks at si.com got on the wagon first Sunday night.
  
• Peter King at si.com jumped on in his MMQB column: "When I watched Roethlisberger last year, I thought, "Flawed quarterback.'' When I watched Roethlisberger on Sunday, I thought, "Franchise quarterback.''
• Pro Football Weekly has moved Ben ahead of a certain Super Bowl QB in their MVP meter (Willie Parker is 8th): "An MVP-like second half against the Browns. He willed them to victory, spurred by that 30-yard touchdown run."
• Clark Judge of cbs.sportsline.com gives his Judgement: "At some point, Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger joins the MVP conversation."

And Mondesi's House finds a few more who have climbed aboard:

• The Washington Post's Mark Maske: "I would have to go Brady first, Manning second and Roethlisberger third."
• Yahoo's James Black asks: "Was that Roethlisberger or John Elway taking off for a 30-yard scoring run in Pittsburgh?"
• Rich Cimini at msnbc.com climbs on: "In Pittsburgh, Ben Roethlisberger, whom the Giants could’ve (and should’ve) picked in 2004, continued his MVP-caliber season"

Thanks for the fresh insight guys, welcome aboard.

Steelers By The Numbers

Always fun to look at the numbers after a win. Here are a few that should not be overlooked with the Steelers sitting at 7-2:

• The Steelers are 5th in the NFL in total offense with 358 yards/game. The Browns are 11th. As we saw yesterday after their first drive, the Browns offense can be stopped.
• The Steelers lead the league in time of possession at just about 35 minutes/game. That is almost 1:30 more than the Patriots who are second. The gap between the Steelers and Pats is the largest gap between any two teams in the league.
• The Steelers are the best in the league at converting third downs at 53%. And they have had the 4th most 3rd down plays, so it is imperative that they remain excellent at converting on third.
• The Steelers are 5th in the league in points/game at 28.3, ahead of Favre's Packers.
• The Steeler defense is giving up the fewest yards/game in the league at 229. The gap between them and the #2 Titans is larger than the gap between the Titans and the #10 Packers.
• The Steelers are giving up the fewest yards/play in the league at 4.2 (FYI - the Bungles are last, allowing 6 yards per play).
  
• The Steelers lead the league in points allowed per game with 14.
• The Steeler defense is only 12th in the league at getting off the field on 3rd down at 41%.

• Heath Miller is tied with Dallas Clark for most TD's by a TE with 6.
• Willie Parker is 2nd in the NFL but leads the AFC with 873 yards, or 97/game. Interesting is that his longest run is only 32 yards.
• Ben Roethlisberger in 3rd in the league at yards per pass attempt at 8.3.
• Roethlisberger is now 11-3 (counting postseason) in games decided by 6 or fewer points.

Steelers rally to beat Browns, 31-28

Steelers win a close one at home that their special teams tried to give away. Except for the first drive, the defense was excellent and Big Ben was the difference, making great plays with his arm and feet. So much for being a "game manager".