Parker laments passing of 'Steelers football'

Wide receivers complain when they don't get the damn ball. Quarterbacks like Ben want to throw because they feel they can make things happen. And running backs want the ball as well. So it's completely normal for players to complain a bit when their part of the offense isn't succeeding or is becoming less integral to its success.

That said, Willie is on to something here and it would be nice, a helpful if you want to see them make a long layoff run, to commit to running the ball more than they do now.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08345/934197-66.stm

Willie Parker pines for the old days, when he would line up behind the fullback in the I-formation and blast through the line, daring a defense to stop the run.

He called it "Steelers football" but said it's disappeared over the past two seasons in favor of more passes and less conviction to use the ground game.

"I just don't think we should give up that quick," Parker said after practice today. "We're the Pittsburgh Steelers, everyone knows wer're going to run the ball -- or they used to think we'd run the ball.

"We pass the ball a lot now. We got away from Steelers football, Steelers mentality."

The Steelers have run 373 times for 1,350 yards, a total that ranks 23rd in the NFL. If they remain there, it would be their second lowest ranking since the team joined the AFC as part of the 1970 NFL merger.

They're not doing much better passing it either because the rank just 20th there, and 26th overall as an offense. The Steelers have thrown 400 passes and their quarterbacks have been sacked another 41 times trying to pass.

Parker, who has missed five games because of two separate injuries, leads the team with 597 yards rushing. He topped 1,200 yards in each of the previous three seasons and was leading the NFL in rushing last season when his leg was broken in the 15th game.

He said the philosophy has changed around the running game, that they don't believe in a lead blocker such as the fullback any more and their two tight end offense has not produced on the ground.

"Yeah, it's definitely a concern," Parker said. "I definitely think about it all the time -- why can't we run the ball? What's the difference between now and two years ago? So it's definitely being a concern, me being a running back."

The Steelers, under new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians in 2007 de-emphasized the fullback, then let their longtime starter Dan Kreider go in free agency. They've tried it with two hybrid players -- Carey Davis, a halfback/fullback, and Sean McHugh, a tight end/fullback.

"We get into two tights now," Parker said. "It's like without a fullback, [defenses] definitely know what's coming and they know where it's going. I don't know what it is but it's not being effective."

Steeler defense video

Nothing gets Steeler fans more fired up than great defense and this video is a great tribute.

The best part is Kevin Greene clearly still wanting to put on the pads and be a part of things and James Harrison's brush off of him. But Greene does look like he could still get double digit sacks.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80d0fae0

Steelers beat one New England team; fall behind another

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/12/01/daily6.html

The Pittsburgh Steelers slipped from first to third place on an annual survey of sports teams' brands.

The 2008 Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins, however improved from 20th to No. 8 on the Turnkey Sports & Entertainment 2008 Team Brand Index.

"Pittsburgh fans get it – they know what makes a great sports team brand," Len Perna, president and CEO of Turnkey said in a statement. "The Steelers finished No. 1 overall in 2007, and actually indexed higher in 2008, but were passed by the Packers and Red Sox," said Perna. Fans rated 122 teams on 21 distinct factors, including how fans perceive entertainment value, how well they like the players, perceptions of ownership, and the team's commitment to winning.

The study also tested each team on 36 brand attributes. Pittsburgh fans rated "hard-working" as the most important attribute for a local sports team. The Penguins ranked most hard-working in Pittsburgh, according to Turnkey.

A separate part of the study asked for fans' perceptions of team sponsors. The 2008 Sponsor Loyalty Index found that Pittsburgh-area fans care who is sponsoring the Steelers and Penguins. "Both team brands ranked in the top 20 of all 122 teams – they both deliver for their sponsors," said Perna.

Heinz was designated the "most-admired sponsor" in Pittsburgh. Giant Eagle tied for second and was the most admired of the non-national sponsors. The study tracked consumer opinions on more than 150 local, regional and national companies that sponsor NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB teams.

Fans rated the National Football League as the "most-admired league" in Pittsburgh.

The team with the largest out-of-market following is the Yankees, the survey found.

Great News for Pitt

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08330/930629-142.stm?cmpid=latest.xml

McCoy to return for junior season.

"Everyone keeps trying to push that idea, that this is my last game at Heinz Field. I'm not going anywhere," McCoy said. "There is a lot of stuff I have to prove and the thing is, I don't think I've done enouhg here at this university and there is a lot of stuff I have to achieve here.

"It is something I want to squash and get it over with and not have to talk about it because I am kind of getting a little fed up with it. When you look at the [NFL] them guys, that's what they do, that is their job. When you play college football, you just come out to have fun and play ball but to those guys, it is their job.

"I feel I am not ready yet. Right now, I'm in school, I'm enjoying myself, I'm not pushing to go anywhere."

How the Steelers are NOT the Steelers of Old

Behind the Steel Curtain has done an excellent review of the Steelers' offensive tendencies in third and between 2-4 yards to go so far in 2008.

The results amount to this:

Pittsburgh Steelers on 3rd and 2 - 3rd and 4

Total Opportunities	Total Runs	Total Passes	1st Down % Running	1st Down % Passing	Sacks
41	3	38	100%	54%	7

My thoughts about these numbers:

• Once again, whenever someone says the Steelers are about running the football first, please turn the channel - those who know anything at all about the Steelers know differently.
  
• Anytime there is a 38-3 discrepancy in play calling, it is a bad thing. Defensive coordinators are very aware of tendencies and these numbers don't put much if any doubt in their heads about what the Steelers will do.
• Only 3 rushes, so the 100% conversion rate is skewed. But when you're only converting 54% of third and shorts when throwing the ball, you have to think about the play calling. That 54% includes sacks counted as passes.
• Steel Curtain notes that Ben has thrown 3 of his 11 INTs in these situations, meaning 27% of Ben's picks have come on just 11% of his passes. Is he forcing things more than normal in these situations? Whatever the reasons, they are something to be considered when making the play calls.
• Seeing them repeatedly fail recently on third and 1, it doesn't make a good case for running on third and two or three. But maybe with defensive coordinators looking at these numbers, running will catch them off guard. And let me also suggest that we see Gary Russell in these situations more and more often.

Overall, these numbers are further proof of the Arianization of the Steeler offense - pass happy and run to set up the pass - that has not proven successful on the NFL level.