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maryrose

Apr 23, 2008 Dec 01, 2008 74 542

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Steelers Take Small Step and Giant Leap

I refuse to call this a "big win," simply because the phrases "big win" and big game" can be used every week (unless you have locked a playoff seed) and are therefore redundant and overused.  However, it is an understatement to say that certain elements of this game can bode very special harbingers of things to come.

While the true impetus for this win came once again from the NFL's finest defense, there is really nothing that General LeBeau and his troops do that surprise us anymore.  We have come to expect their performance, perhaps unfairly so, but they have proven our expectation time and time again.

I am much more excited about the offensive line, which to me is like the Prodigal Son. The offensive line does not deserve our praise more than the defense, but I will give it anyway.  That part of our game strayed and has been much maligned, by none more so than yours truly.  I welcome them back with open arms and shower them with praise.  The line created gaps between the tackles and sealed the edge for our running backs.  The line also made Ben feel like the quarterback he is capable of in passing plays.  Yes, the ball came out of Ben's hands wobbly most of the game, but consider he was throwing in a steady downpour.  More importantly, consider he was throwing while not under duress.

Mind you, none other than Bill Belichick, a four-star general in his own right, was scheming against them.  This was not the Cincinnati Bengals.  Various snippets from Mike Tomlin on occasion suggest he is acutely aware of public opinion by media and fans, perhaps even oversensitive.  Be that as it may, there is evidence that he uses this sensitivity to make his team better.

Picture yourself in the special teams meeting where Tomlin comes in and drills the players over and over how none of "us" believes they can tackle anyone.  Tomlin doesn't tear them down directly.  He uses "us."  Brilliant strategy on his part, and it worked (knock on wood).  Tomlin's next task was the offensive line.  I can just hear him pounding away that "we" don't think they can block.  Tomlin plays the good cop while we are the bad cop.

Why do I think all this?  In the post-game press conference, after a blowout road win against the Great Belichick, Tomlin gave a telling anser to an innocent question:  "How would you assess your running game tonight?"  Tomlin's answer was that his assessment didn't matter since "You guys are just going to write that we can't run the ball anyway."  Very interesting response.  Perhaps some of you feel like Tomlin is too sensitive and that professional athletes should not need psychology or motivation.  I beg to differ.  Professional athletes are not robots.  They are human beings like you and I.  Believe it or not, the Pittsburgh Steelers feel the weight of Steeler Nation.  Any means of motivation that Tomlin uses is OK in my book.

We talked before about improving in increments.  Just give me one more inch this week.  We clearly saw that inch against San Diego, despite the quirk of not getting the ball into the end zone.  The Bengals are still the Bengals, so that inch may not have been celebrated, but it is undeniable that we saw another couple inches Sunday in Foxboro.

While the future, of course, is completely unknown, I don't think there is a single one of us who doesn't believe that much of our hopes hinge upon that O-line giving us one more inch each week we take the field.  That is not to suggest that we don't have other work.  Dropped passes and senseless penalties are sure tokens on the train to disaster.  They need to be corrected, to be sure.  In the meantime, I have just one message for our Prodigal Son, though admittedly much easier said than done.  Dallas is coming to town.  One more inch, baby, just one more inch.

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Quinn Out For Season

As reported by Jay Glazier at Fox Sports:

There will be no more quarterback controversy in Cleveland this season.

Browns quarterback Brady Quinn is done for the year after doctors revealed that the break to his right index finger has gotten worse since he's tried to play through the injury, sources told FOXSports.com.

Team sources said that Quinn and the team made the decision together earlier today. Sources say that not only has the break in his right index finger worsened, but it is also starting to injure the tendons as well.

Derek Anderson will return as starter. Quinn met with renowned doctor James Andrews and the Browns brought in specialists as well.

A team source said that all agreed that Quinn needed to shut it down before the tendons tore from the bone.

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Steelers Head Into Final Third of Season With Plenty To Feel Good About

We've all talked about the unique dynamic of the NFL in that it changes dramatically during the course of a season.  The idea is to survive through December and peak through January.  Looking back at the first third of the season, one would think it was actually three seasons ago.  The undefeated Patriots from a year ago got crushed at home by a team who almost didn't win a game a year ago.  Brett Favre and the Jets were downed by the Oakland Raiders.  The Colts were losing regularly and I swore the Eagles were not going to allow another first down after the Steelers debacle.

Now, a guy who never started a football game in pro or college is looking like the legend he suddenly replaced, the Jets look like the team to beat in the AFC, the Colts have not lost in a month and the Eagles look completely dismantled.  Only in the NFL.  The Steelers have morphed in their own right.  After seeing that the make-up of the offensive line was not compatible with the style of our quarterback, the offensive braintrust changed the way we did business.  It was a major transition to make.  We went from an extreme team, one who either pounded the clock or had our quarterback break a tackle and make a big play, to an equator team, one that chips downfield and takes what the defense gives us.

 

Continue reading this post »

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Steelers Offense: State of the Union

After a giddy opener and abberation wind-game in Cleveland, we learned in weeks three and four (Philly and Baltmore) just how vulnerable we were on the offensive line.  Our quarterback was a fish out of water and the game plans and plays we thought were going to be a major part of the arsenal were in need of dramatic overhaul.  While the rest of the offensive was never perfect, including Ben, Bruce Arians and the rest, slinging arrows at them was blaming the symptoms instead of the disease.

The next five games saw the entire offense and coaching staff make changes in an attempt to play to our capacity given the line situation.  Beginning with Jacksonville, the short passing game became a focal point.  In fairness to the line, Ben Roethlisberger is not the type of quarterback who makes mediocre or below average lines look better.  To the contrary, he makes them look worse.  Ben like time to consider downfield options and he holds the ball long in order to make plays.  Neither of those traits is friendly to an offensive line.

The Steelers won three of those five games, including two road games against solid ballclubs (Jaguars and Redskins).  At home against the Giants and Colts, the Steelers had fourth-quarter leads, relinquished them, and were stonewalled from final counterpunch.  These games were frustrating more than just the loss.  They were demoralizing because our offense had no ability to answer in the second half.

Still, you could see the Steelers morphing into a different offensive identity.  Ben is getting more and more comfortable taking two or three steps and letting loose.  His short, quick passes are getting more crisp and thrown with more confidence.  He is looking more like a fish in different water than out of water.  We're seeing less of Santonio Holmes and the home run ball and more of Hines Ward and possession ball.  That's what our offensive line allows us to do.

I was hoping the San Diego game was going to be the beginning of a new level.  We certainly wanted to put those two straight home losses in the rear-view mirror.  I walked into Heinz Field wanting three things (in addition to the obvious W).  First, I begged the offensive line to improve just one inch.  They might have improved two in my mind.  Max Starks is looking more like a back-up than a starter, especially in pass protection, but Justin Hartwig is improving as the centerpiece, playing in between two first-year starters.  Second, I really wanted to see Ben look more comfortable in the short, mix-em-up game.  He did that.  His "new game" is looking better in part because he is practicing more of late.  Third, I wanted FWP to be healthy enough to show us all how badly we need him.  He did that.  He also gave the beleaguered line the opportunity to feel good about giving him a crease or two.  Willie made yards on his own Sunday, but only after the line got him to the second level.

All games are "big games," so I hesitate giving the San Diego game a label we use every week anyhow.  But I will. That game went beyond the W and could be a pathway for things to come.  After the San Diego field goal I stood up and cheered with enthusiasm.  The guy in the seat next to me said "now's the time you usually shake your head in disgust."  Not this time.  It had a different feel.  Had Jeff Reed shanked that final boot, I would still feel OK about the way the offense played (although admittedly it would have been harder to write).

Next game we need one more inch of improvement, one more inch of cohesion, one more inch of anything, from the offensive line.  Out line might still not be capable of winning a playoff game, unless the defense flat outscores the opposition.  Just one inch at a time, baby.  We also need to see Ben continue to look sharper with the three-step speed game.  In the meantime, the receivers, tight ends and running backs are also getting more comfortable with a new style of offense.  And Willie, stay healthy in order for the line to do what it does better, and that is run block.

There are no style points in the NFL.  You either win or lose.  But once the W is tucked in the back pocket, I do look at style.  Style can show us the substance of the future.  The fact that the offense scored only three field goals means nothing to me.  It was a quirky game all the way around.  Such is life in the NFL.  The fact that all three of my wishes came true means much more to me.

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The Steelers 64 Million Dollar Question

I got home from the Steelers game Sunday and watched the Eagles and Giants. The G-Men beat the team from Pennsylvania on the road by a touchdown, when the home team could not score on its final drive.  Sound familiar?

Not really.  It was night and day.  The final drive was a subset of the game and the game was a subset of the season.  When Donovan McNabb dropped back to pass, for a good three seconds he had no one around him.  He clearly and calmly surveyed the field and his options.  After three seconds a Giant would break protection and McNabb would have to throw or escape that player.  Once he scrambled for a first down.  He was clear-headed and uncscathed.  The Eagles came up short when two running plays failed to gain three yards.  So be it.  Their fans have every reason to believe the next game will be different.

Two weeks earlier the Steelers were in the same position against the same team. Ben Roethlisberger was the anti-McNabb.  His right leg was moving back at the snap.  He couldn't look at the field and read progessions.  He needed to throw.  He couldn't throw long, there was not enough time.  Our fans not only didn't have any confidence, many actually left Heinz Field.  Aside from the fact that those pathetic people don't deserve tickets, they were right.  There was actually enough time for two possessions.  Eight plays, zero yards.

Last year Ben would get us 15 or 20 yards a game rushing, crucial yards.  This year he doesn't run, since getting hit for the 126th time might be his last.  Our quarterback is a fish out of water.  He must have protection to make plays.  He is not a west coast guy who lives on instant scrimmage passes.  He is a big mobile guy who makes his living fending off a defender (but not three), looking at options and making big plays. 

The Steelers have played five teams with winning records.  They average 26 rushing attempts for 70 yards, a 2.7 average in those five games.  Ben has been sacked 24 times, an average of five per game.  This was supposed to be a Cadillac year for our offense, with guys like Holmes ready to bust.  Against the better teams, we are a Cadillac with four flat tires, only able to amble 10 miles per hour.

We've had our moments, of course.  Bruce Arians has scripted opening drives that have scored seven of nine times (in Jax after the pick-six), four of them touchdowns.  But how many times this year has the offensive line been swallowed alive?  How many times has the live been overmatched, out-coached and out-schemed?  When you watch the games, do you notice the immediate penetration into our backfield?  I turned on that Eagles-Giants game and saw McNabb unscathed and wondered, how hard is that?

The $64 million question is, can those flat tires be repaired?  Can somehow the line get better?  The mantra in the NFL is survive through December and peak in January.  Can our line do that?  Is it possible Larry Zierlein knows what he is doing?  Is it possible for linemen to actually melt together as the season goes on?  There is no point worrying about Ben, talking about more running, or blaming Bruce Arians.  Ben can't make plays, running backs can't make yards and Arians can't call plays with four flat tires.  Is it possible?  Or will we flitter into mediorcity with our shiny Cadillac waiting for next year when we can fix a couple tires and replace a couple more.  I guess we'll know more this Sunday.  I am begging for improvement.  Can it happen?

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In Defense of Bruce Arians

I know I am going against the grain here, but so be it.  Far too many times when the Steelers snap the ball there is a jailbreak penetration into their backfield.  I don't care if Vince Lombardi and Sid Gillman are coaching Johnny Unitas, this situation will lead to disaster.  That jailbreak penetration is the root of our evils.  Defenses know how to beat our deplorable offensive line, even mediocre ones.

Fans often make "arguments of convenience" to explain how something bad happened.  Arguments of convenience are finding things that someone didn't do to explain why something didn't work.  We don't run enough, we don't screen enough, we don't check down enough, we don't whatever enough.  Talk show callers were lamenting three running plays near the goal line instead of a rollout.  If we rollout and don't score those same callers are screaming that we didn't do what got us the first two touchdowns. On and on.

In the Steelers nine games, they have scored on the opening possession seven times (second posession against Jax after the pick-six), an exceptional number, even in the Philly fiasco.  Five of those seven have been touchdowns.  They have scored three touchdowns on the opening drive of second halves.  If you take out the monsoon in Cleveland, the Steelers have scored 10 times, including eight touchdowns, in 16 opening-half possessions.  Apparantly Arians is scripting something right.  When the defense adjusts, we do not have the talent nor the coaching on the line to re-adjust and continue the chess match.  We get out-schemed, out-manned and out-stunted in the trenches.  That's what my mind sees on too many plays.

Sunday the Steelers tried running the ball 26 times.  We averaged 2.1 yards per run and on 14 occasions, ran for two yards or less.  Our opponents know how to take away our run and because of the jailbreak, we make one long pass per game.  When we run screens we hope for incompletions so as not to lose yardage on them.  End arounds?  Forget it.  The offensive line that made Bill Cowher and Ken Whisenhunt so smart is nowhere in sight.  Nor is Jerome Bettis.  Fans talk about going back to Steeler football and the days of Cowher.  When we get eaten at the point of scrimmage, this is no remedy.

Arians is trying everything he can.  How many instant line passes did he throw Sunday?  How many times did we hit our back-up tight end?  Ben completed 30 passes, not a bad day.  He made some killer decisions, without Arians whispering in his ear.  The hand that was dealt to Arians Sunday was missing his running back, back-up running back, tight end, two starting linemen and a battered and shellshocked quarterback .

Arians was the OC for a dysfunctional Cleveland team.  In 2002 Tim Couch was replaced by Kelly Holcolmb midway through the season.  Still, the Browns made the playoffs, where Arians' offense took a huge lead against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.  A remarkable Tommy Maddox comeback against the Browns defense put the Steelers back in the game, and then a Dennis Northcutt drop of a beautiful pass sealed the deal.  Arians can lead the horse to water but can't make him drink.  With Pittsburgh up 17-7 Sunday and a third and two to end the half, Ben decided to throw to a receiver he claimed he didn't see rather than scamper easily for two yards and fall down.

When Russ Grimm was line coach, Ben was sacked alot.  But he also played Houdini and made great plays.  He did so by holding on to the ball longer than he should, but the payoff was worth the sacks.  This year he is getting sacked, but there is no chance for Houdini.  Only once have we seen the Ben magic (Jax).  The line is so bad it is no longer a question of Ben beating one man for the magic or getting sacked.  He can only beat the jailbreak by taking two steps and unloading.  Last year, without Grimm, you could see and feel Alan Faneca holding things together as best he could, but signs of unraveling were imminent.

Who is Larry Zierlein?  In fairness, many assistant coaches are nomads at the mercy of a head coach (ala Arians-Butch Davis).  But Zierlein has had 14 jobs in his career - nine of then, that's nine, have been two-year stints or less.  Hello?  I think Tomlin has done much more good than bad, but this is the exception. And when he said we needed to get bigger, faster and younger in the trenches, all we got was Justin Hartwig and a fourth-round project.  True, all the good linemen went early and often, and I still think Mendenhall was the right pick, but the point is that Bruce Arians deserves better than two first-year starters, a new center, a $7 million mystery man and Willie Colon, all led by Larry "suitcase" Zierlein.

You Arians bashers might be right, but I am not there yet.  If we are this bad when I see another free agent, a rookie impact tackle and a new line coach, then I will raise the white flag and join you.  Until then, neither Bruce Arians nor Bruce Almighty can do any better with this configuration.  Our fate this year is almost entirely dependent on whether this offensive line can possibly improve and peak at crunch time.  The other pieces are all there, or will be when healthy.

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BTSC Chats with Steelers Owner Art Rooney Jr.

Guess who is familiar with our little sandbox here at BTSC?  Yep, none other than Art Rooney Jr., one of five Rooney brothers who own 80% of the franchise.  Mr. Rooney not only acknowledged the site, but was kind enough to chat a bit about our common love, the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Art Rooney Jr., as you may have seen, is up for the Hall of Fame this year.  I wrote adamantly in the past that his absence from Canton is a gross injustice.  He was the centerpiece along with Bill Nunn, Jack Butler, Buddy Parker and others who completely overhauled the way scouting was conducted not only in Pittsburgh, but across the entire National Football League.  By the time the rest of the NFL caught up to the Steelers scouting system, it was four Super Bowls and nine Hall of Fame players later.  If that's not Hall of Fame, I don't know what is.  And if you ever want to read a great book, get a copy of Ruanaidh, his recent publication.

BTSC:  It's flattering that you are aware of our Web Site.  How did you find out about us?

Mr. Rooney:  My staff makes me aware of those things.  We kept trying to guess who this "Maryrose" was.  My office and people connected with the Steelers thought you were an insider.   thought for sure you were one of the retired coaches' wives or secretaries.  It is thoughtful discussion with a sense of history.

"Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history."

Art Rooney Jr., on BTSC

Art_rooney_2_medium 
Art Rooney Jr., Visiting the Hall of Fame in which he should be

BTSC:  How did you manage to help turn around a losing mindset 40 years ago?

Mr. Rooney:  We completely revamped the way we did everything.  Scouting was my passion, my hobby and my job.  I loved finding the diamonds in the rough.  Our regime drafted nine Hall of Famers, plus we did the preliminary paperwork on Rod Woodson who will be in the Hall.

BTSC:  What is your assessment of the team now.

Mr. Rooney:  Our quarterback is getting hit way too many times.  When you pay that kind of money for a franchise quarterback, you had better make sure he doesn't get hit like that.  We should win at least four or five more games.

BTSC:  What has stood out for you while all of the recent ownership issues have been going on?

Mr. Rooney:  The fact that people on the streets have such a great affection for the Rooney family.  People in coffee shops, churches, ladies and men everywhere, have not only talked about their affection for the Steelers, but also how much they want the Rooney name to own the Steelers.  That means a great deal to me.

Art_rooney_jr 

Art Rooney Jr. (center) was the unsung Rooney behind the Super Bowl trophies

BTSC:  Are you confident that will happen?

Mr. Rooney:  Yes I am.  We're channeling all our efforts into that process.

BTSC:  I've read that the timetable for getting everything settled is the end of the calendar year.  Is that accurate? 

Mr. Rooney:  Yes it is.  Because of the election, we may be facing some major tax increases after the first of the year.  We need to get settled before that happens, or we may find that 15 percent will become 25 percent or higher when we pass things on to the next generation.

BTSC:  How much of an issue is the 30% rule where the NFL demands at least one ownership partner to own at least 30% of the team?

Mr. Rooney:  That's not an issue now because Dan is grandfathered in.  As long as he is the principle owner, he doesn't need to own 30%.  The issue will be down the road with Dan's son.  Art II is not grandfathered, so he would need to own 30% of the team to be in compliance.

BTSC:  What about the gambling issue?

Mr. Rooney:  My dad would be furious right now.  At least five of the original founders of this league owned race tracks and used some of that money to keep the league going.  All the race tracks now-a-days are adding casinos and that is making things really tricky for us.

BTSC:  What is Dan's biggest challenge now?

Mr. Rooney:  The economy.  Trying to find investors now is not easy, but he'll do it.  The Steelers are a strong and popular commodity.  It may be awkward for him down the road.  Right now we let him do whatever he wants.  He doesn't have to answer to anyone. When he gets outside partners that will all change.   Those partners won't be happy about giving a guy a hundred million and then watching him get killed.  He'll need to answer to his partners, even if he is primary owner.

BTSC:  What is the secret to success, yours or anyone's?

Mr. Rooney:  Have a passion.  Next to your family, have great passion for you job and use that to energize your entire career.  Having passion is the key.

BTSC:  How does it feel to be up for the Hall of Fame?

Mr. Rooney:  It's a great honor just being nominated.  Usually the Hall is for players, coaches and ownership chairmen.  For me to be nominated is very humbling.

 

 

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My Pet Peeves About Timeouts

Since we violated my pet peeves Sunday and since Blitz began the timeout conversation a couple days ago, I will give you my three pet peeves about calling timeouts.

Peeve 1:  Do not call timeout with 2:02 remaining.

It is the trendy fad these days but it does not make sense.  All you gain is two seconds and you risk losing the game by bringing back the pass into the opponent's equation.  When the opponent is in clock-killing mode, they are going to run conservative running plays to keep the clock moving.  Thus, they will often be in second-and 7 or third-and 5 type situations.  If you let the clock go down to 2:00, they will run the ball again and you can use your timeout with 1:55 left.  When you stop the clock at 2:02, you open the door for them to pass.  Why not?  The clock will stop automatically even if incomplete due to the two-minute warning.  So those second and 7s, third-and 5s are now vulnerbale to a safe pass.  You watch, one of these days a team will feel the dagger of a complete pass-first down on a play with 2:02 left.  Two seconds isn't worth that vulnerablity.

Peeve 2:  Don't waste 8-10 seconds when you do call timeout

How many times have you screamed at the TV for a timeout, college, pro games, whatever, only to see 8-10 precious seconds run off before the clock finally stops.  Does this happen all the time or is it just me?  I am not a football technician and I learn alot about line play, zone blitzes, etc., from all you good people, but one thing that is crystal clear to me is when to call timeouts.  It is always clear during the previous play that I will need to use a timeout as soon as the play ends.  I am going to stand next to a striped shirt and scream for a timeout before the previous whistle blows.  I want no extra seconds going off the clock before I finally "get around" to stopping it.  Makes no sense.   The only exception might be on an unexpected sack, but I am still going to be quick.  That's my job.

Peeve 3:  Use you first-half timeouts

This is really extension of Blitz'a comments.  I can see saving your timeouts in the second half.  You might need them for survival at the end.  But the first half is different.  So many teams go into the lockerrom with all three of them in their back pocket.  They are no good there.  There are times during the first half, even during the first drive or whenever, that it makes sense to stop and re-group for a moment.  Call timout, please.  I would rather stop three times and talk than to save for a late first-half field goal, or at least use one or two and save maybe one.  How many times does the losing team end up not using first-half timeouts, when they might not have lost the game if they did.

These are minor points to be sure.  But we all know the fine line in the NFL.  One of the standard expectations is perfecting timeout management.  There's enough elements out of your control.  At least manage perfectly that which is in your control.

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Steelers, Redskins and a Touch of History

So just who played in the first NFL Monday Night Football game?  If you think it was New York at Cleveland in 1970, you are 21 years too late.  The Jets and Browns  may have played in the first Monday night game on network television, but indeed the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins played the first Monday Night football game in the NFL on October 3, 1949.  The Steelers and Pirates both shared Forbes Field in those days and with the Pirates playing the Cincinnati Reds in a doubleheader on Sunday, October 2, the Steelers and Skins played the next night.  Not surprising for those days, Washington got the better of us 27-14.

George Preston Marshall owned the Redskins for many years and was a thorn in Art Rooney's side (along with many others).  He actually owned the team when it was the Boston Redskins and moved to the nation's capital in 1937 after bemoaning poor fan support.  (Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Boston fans.)  Marshall and his buddy, George Halas, coach and owner of the Chicago Bears, hooked up to bully the rest of the league to get what they wanted.  Winning wasn't as important 70 years ago, so the other owners often let them have their way.  This was especially true with scheduling, which the owners did themselves at the annual spring meeting. 

When Rooney hatched a plan for the Philadelphia Eagles to move into Boston's vacancy in 1941, and for Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to combine into the Pennsylvania Keystoners, Marshall blew a gasket.  He thought Rooney would somehow have an advantage by having all of Pennsylvania so he screamed to the heavens to stop the plan.  As usual, he got his way.

The Steelers-Redskins series began in 1933, and like most teams, the Redskins won most of those early games.  They jumped out to a 27-11-2 series lead by pounding Pittsburgh on a regular basis.  That dominance all came to a halt on December 13, 1953 in Washington.

While out-rushing and out passing Washington all game, the Steelers trailed after three quarters 13-0.  That was typical for them.  Getting lost in the was the great game Steelers cornerback Jack Bulter was having.  He had intercepted the great Eddie LeBaron three times.  Finally in the fourth quarter, the Steelers put a touchdown on the board to at least avert the shutout.  Late in the game, down 13-7, Jack Butler capped the game of his life by picking off LeBaron a fourth time, an NFL record still never broken, and taking it to the house for an electric 14-13 Steelers victory.

Jack_butler_3_medium  Jack_butler_2_medium

If you allow me to digress, it is an absolute shame that Butler is not in the Hall of Fame.  He intercepted 52 passes in an era where fewer games were played and much fewer passes thrown.  Only two players in 40 years had more.  He made four Pro Bowls and was in Pro Football Weekly’s Top 100 NFL Players of All Time.  Butler had great hands and was called upon occasionally to play offensive receiver.  He caught seven passes and scored on four of them.  Moreover, he ran the NFL’s first scouting combine for 44 years, from 1963 to 2007.  It will be an injustice if Butler does not live to see his bust in Canton.

Jack_butler_medium

Anyhow, that game turned the series around.  The Steelers went on to win 20 against 16 losses and two ties since.  Washington still owns the overall margin 31-43-4.  The Steelers won the last game played in Ben's rookie season (2004) by a 16-7 score.  The Redskins also have the honor of being the last NFL team to play the Steelers in Three Rivers Stadium.  This happened in 2000 when Pittsburgh won 24-3.

The Steelers have won the last three games in the series, all at home.  Washington's last victory was in 1991, Chuck Noll's final season, 41-14.

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Keisel knew goal-line play during stand

ESPN reports that Brett Keisel knew the Giants play on their final unsuccessful plunge to the end zone during the Steelers goal-line stand:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3667464

Question is, why would he brag about that?  Why wouldn't he keep that little secret to himself if he has that talent and knack?  Or, maybe I am greedy and he thought that was a once-in-a-lifetime thing.  I think I would have kept my mouth shut.

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