Steel Balls

Some points for the Seahawks fans in your life that want to revisit 2005 now that they’ve won a championship:

Mike Holmgren very effectively hid his own poor performance by complaining about officiating. Hawks fans followed suit and in fact, his gripes just added fuel to the fire. Here’s the thing though,…. Let’s talk about what was not affected by the officiating.

· The Seahawks had 5 clear drops in that game (2 more were questionable, but hit receivers’ hands) (Hasslebeck threw 49 times in that game and only completed 26)

· They missed two kicks

· They mismanaged the clock

· Hasselbeck threw an untimely pick

· They allowed the longest run from scrimmage in SB history after Bernard went out injured and Michael Boulware whiffed on his tackle attempt at Willie Parker.

· And, they gave Roethlisberger 11 seconds to convert a 3rd and 28 on the same drive that he scored the disputed TD on.

· As well, I’m fairly certain that everyone from the guys calling the game to the fans in the stands knew the Steelers liked to run trick plays on 2nd and short from beyond midfield. The Seahawks apparently didn’t put that in the scouting report they handed out in defensive meetings and Hines Ward high stepped it into the end zone after Randle El threw a decent, not even great, pass to a wide open Hines.

The officiating didn’t cause any of that.
If they could acknowledge that the team did not play well, I might have some empathy for the disputed calls explanation. But, as things stand, I do not.

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The poster makes good observations and raises points about Saxon’s experience that I was not aware of.

This was on Behind the Steel Curtain, by the way. They took a screen shot and posted it on their FB page.

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First Night of Stephen Colbert’s “Superb Owl” coverage:

http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/mon-january-27-2014-nate-silver

You may want to let it load completely first before watching.

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50 years of bliss  .. check them all out

http://swimdaily.si.com/2013/10/24/vote-on-best-all-time-si-swimsuit-cover/?xid=adblade_swimdaily

2013                                                                      1964

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As I’ve said before, I’m pretty much always wrong about the draft from top to bottom. Then again the experts are usually wrong too, so what the hell.

This isn’t so much a mock draft as a list of the kinds of picks I’d like to see in the first four rounds. Bear in mind that I haven’t watched tape and am going only by various descriptions I’ve seen on these prospects. Also, I’m not taking character issues into consideration because I haven’t seen a lot of insight in that regard.

• Round 1:  Darqueze Dennard (CB Michigan State)  or Eric Ebron (TE North Carolina)
• Round 2: Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE Washington) or Marcus Roberson (CB Florida)
• Round 3-c: Daniel McCullers (NT Tennessee)
• Round 4: Terrence Brooks (FS Florida State)
• Round 4-c: Brandon Coleman (WR Rutgers)
• Round 4-c: Terrance West (RB Towson)

In subsequent rounds, I’d stock up on best available DL, LB, CB, and S prospects. I’d be tempted to spend one of those late round picks on a top punter.

I know the nose tackle is further down than some would like, but I think there has to be a realization that the team will have to live with its current NT situation for a year or two until someone big can be developed. McCullers is a mammoth human specimen that could be that guy in 2015. Here is his analysis from CBS Sports:

STRENGTHS: Despite his inexperience, McCullers’ size and ability to disrupt things from the middle often made him the focus of an opponent’s blocking scheme. Has been double-teamed on most snaps and has even seen triple-team blocks often. Despite the attention, McCullers’ size and strength make him tough to move in the running game. He plays with better leverage than one might expect given his frame, holding up well inside and sliding off blockers to handle two-gap responsibilities when playing the 3-4 nose guard. He was equally impressive against the run when Tennessee switched to a four-man front in 2012.

WEAKNESSES: While McCullers’ is tough against the run, he offers little in terms of a pass rush. He certainly has the strength to simply push opponents into the pocket but possesses below average foot-quickness and lateral agility.

I would also try to supplement this with a decent FS and/ or CB from free agency, if available.

There you have it. Blast away.

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Earl has been slacking in his duties.

Jen Selter (I’d like to point out that this post promotes fitness……. and hot women.)

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BIGINTN asked, “COPA Can you create a space for us to list our “special” players in the draft and who we would pick if they are available at #15? It sure looks like there could be an impact player available that also fills an immediate need”.

Ask and you shall receive.

You can comment on this thread to highlight your faves. Sometime closer to the draft we can gather up final predictions.

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I just stumbled across an interesting site that tracks penalties. This means I won’t have to count on Steelers Depot to do it for me anymore, or search through their archives.

Link: http://www.nflpenalties.com/team/pittsburgh-steelers?year=2013

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