Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Gaffes, Big Ben and Other Post-Dolphins Thoughts
Was it a fumble? Yes. Was it recovered by Miami? We may never know for sure.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' sixth game of the season sure had its fair share of ups, downs, highs, lows, and interesting moments. That's what we do know. In the end, it was another win for a team fast becoming the favorite in a packed AFC race for the title.
Here are some thoughts and things we learned as we close out Week 7 and start gearing up for Week 8 in the NFL.
1. Big Ben Is Back
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He's back in spectacular fashion too, throwing five touchdown passes against only one interception in two games.
He's also only been sacked three times in those two contests, a mark on the offensive line and on a fitter, more knowledgeable quarterback.
I know that Roethlisberger had three fumbles, including the call that makes Miami fans scream, but you can chalk a lot of that up to his deep, career-long desire to make big plays regardless of the risks.
What you can't ignore or argue is that Roethlisberger makes this offense tick.
Dormant for most of four games, they've come alive since his return. Hines Ward and Mike Wallace look poised for big seasons, particularly the young Wallace, who came away with another long bomb of a touchdown on Sunday. The chemistry with his receivers is undeniable.
Oh, and on Sunday, he came up big without the benefit of an effective rushing attack. Playing with an injured Rashard Mendenhall and a stable of less explosive backs, Roethlisberger took the Steelers on his shoulders and carried them to a 23-22 win in hostile territory.
His teammates and the team's fans will not soon forget that.
2. The Injury Bug Bites Deep
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Once again, we have to talk about a big injury. Once again, it is to one of the old guard of the defense.
Aaron Smith is the best defensive player that you've never heard of. He's also now likely out for the season with torn triceps muscles, the same type of injury he's faced before. Early last year, he was lost due to a torn rotator cuff. In 2007, he tore a biceps muscle.
When does it end?
The answer might be here. Smith isn't getting any younger and, for a player who never missed time before 2007, a third season-ending injury in four seasons might be pushing him to the breaking point.
The Steelers will soon get the answer on whether or not Ziggy Hood, their first-round draft choice in 2009, is ready and able to fill that hole long-term.
Should Hood play well, the Steelers may at least consider letting Smith go after the season. That's a big if and an even bigger rumor, but it could happen.
For now, the Steelers have to focus on getting healthy fast.
Rashard Mendenhall is nursing a bruised shoulder, and he looked much more tentative on Sunday.
Lamarr Woodley and Brett Keisel are both hurting on the defensive side of the ball. Woodley is recovering from a "tweaked" hamstring and says he will be fine for this week's contest against New Orleans.
Brett Keisel didn't play Sunday due to another hamstring injury, so his status is uncertain.
The good news?
Hood, Nick Eason, and rookie Jason Worilds all played well in place of the injured starters. Worilds seemed to prove exactly why the Steelers drafted him in the second round, showing excellent speed and instincts and making the pocket a dangerous place for Chad Henne.
Eason and Hood played well on the line and will both now need to step up even more with Smith lost.
My biggest concern?
Rashard Mendenhall's shoulder. If Mendenhall's injury lingers and the Steelers become one-dimensional again, it's unlikely they can keep up this mastery of the league.
The schedule is in a rough stretch, so this is the time that they desperately need all of their playmakers available.
3. Emmanuel Sanders Vs. Antonio Brown
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He fumbled the opening kickoff. I know that stung.
Suddenly, I heard a lot of people say that Antonio Brown should be in uniform.
And then, he made a spectacular catch over the middle and had a couple of nice returns, including a 48-yard dash that set the Steelers up in Dolphins territory.
Suddenly, I heard a lot of people silence themselves.
Every rookie receiver and running back goes through growing pains. Be glad the Sanders' fumble didn't cost more than three points. That he bounced back in a big way afterward is much more important than what happened at the beginning.
You can actually make a case for both of Pittsburgh's young receivers. Each has something to contribute. For now, Sanders is dressing because he contributes more as an offensive weapon than Brown. He's also no slouch on returns.
Sanders gives Mike Wallace a run for the fastest player on the team. That's saying something considering that Wallace might be the fastest player in football.
In a perfect world, both would dress. Eventually, that will probably start to happen. The team could always choose to rest Antwaan Randle El, who hasn't really contributed any more than Brown or Sanders.
I'm surprised Mike Tomlin hasn't made it a three-way race for those two spots in the lineup. That would make this even more interesting.
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4. Redemptions and Returns To Form
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On Sunday, there were a couple of players who made their first significant contributions of the season. There were also a couple who redeemed themselves after previously poor performances.
Here's a look:
Heath Miller
Miller didn't have a marquee game (3 catches for 33 yards), but he made his presence felt. He's a safety valve for Ben Roethlisberger. Until Big Ben returned, he was virtually a non-entity within the offense.
Now he's starting to show up. That's more due to the people throwing the ball than to his effectiveness, but it's good to see Miller, a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end, catching some passes in the middle.
Larry Foote
It was good to see the "Foote Dance" after the returned Foote sacked Chad Henne. Foote was on my cut list after the preseason, and he hasn't been very visible yet in 2010. But on Sunday, Foote recorded the team's only sack and also played quite well in the linebacker rotation.
If he can continue to round into form, the defense will only get better. With James Farrior aging, Foote could end up being an important part of the unit as the season continues.
Mewelde Moore
It was only four carries and 11 yards, but it was needed. With Rashard Mendenhall obviously ailing, Moore stepped up and carried the mail for a drive. He showed some elusiveness, making up for his lack of real speed.
He also was sure-handed, something that seemed missing in his other appearances. The Steelers will need Moore and Isaac Redman if Mendenhall can't quickly recover, so it was key to see Moore ready to run.
Jeff Reed
He still needs to prove he can still kick at Heinz Field, but in a game where the Steelers needed every single point to beat Miami, Reed was perfect. He nailed three field goals, the last of which made the difference in the score.
He also has vastly improved his kickoffs this season. Reed's return to form is essential if the Steelers are to make a playoff run. On Sunday, in tough winds, he looked every bit his former self.
5. The Helmet to Helmet Effect
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I'll spare you all a long diatribe on the rules enforcement the NFL has been thumping its chest about all week. I will say that I think its further proof of Roger Goodell's hypocritical, selfish, and inconsistent reign of terror.
On Sunday, the effects of the latest maxims were very evident.
I witnessed James Harrison twice pull up instead of hitting a ball carrier. I saw Ryan Clark back off from his usual devastating hitting.
In other games, other defensive stars seemed somewhat tentative. No one, despite the tough talk from Clark and other players, wants to be suspended or fined.
It's bad news for defenses everywhere. If players are afraid to hit effectively, more offenses will find big plays available.
Offenses have already adjusted to stiffer rules on pass interference and hits to the quarterback, so it is reasonable to think that receivers and backs will start using the new enforcement to their advantage.
I will say that Harrison plays the game the way I'd play it if able. I also think the hits the NFL is so insistent about preventing are exactly what gives football its identity. It's a hard sport for hard men. That's what it's all about. It's not about finesse.
You can say what you want about player safety, but in the end any hit that is taken by any player involves some little bit of head trauma.
The spearing that was exhibited by Brandon Meriweather needs to be checked. But some good, old-fashioned slobber-knockers are what the game is all about.
Well done, commissioner. The No Fun League is getting even less exciting.
Winners and Losers
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Here are some winners and losers from Week 7 for the Pittsburgh Steelers:
Winners
Hines Ward, WR: He continues to climb the receiving charts for the Steelers. If he doesn't finish with every possible record for a wide receiver in black and gold, he and everyone else will be surprised. Now that Ben Roethlisberger is back and slinging it deep, Ward is enjoying every second of the season.
Mike Wallace, WR: Like Ward, Wallace is certainly enjoying the offense more now that Ben Roethlisberger is under center. He's lined up for a career year. He's also being mentioned as the fastest player in the NFL and as one of the league's budding playmakers. Wallace has certainly silenced his doubters. For a late-round draft choice, he's certainly another steal.
Jason Worilds, LB: Worilds was considered a somewhat questionable draft choice, but he's starting to show his stuff. With Lamarr Woodley out, he played extremely well in relief. He showed off his speed and his ability to rush the passer, both important for an outside linebacker in this defense.
Losers
Aaron Smith, DE: Is there a bigger loser from this week? He's out for the season again. Smith, who loves the Steelers and football, is devastated after this latest injury. He's also the most-unheralded Steeler in the team's history, so his loss is even worse considering that he was once again set up for a big year.
James Harrison, LB: How would you like it if you were afraid to do your job the best way you knew how? You'd be upset, angry, and a bit tentative. That was Harrison on Sunday. Hopefully he can adjust to this new setup. The Steelers desperately need him to be ready and effective every week.
Antonio Brown, WR: He had to be secretly glad about that fumble by Emmanuel Sanders. And then Sanders had to go and make a big catch and a bunch of nice returns. Now he's got to fight even harder to dress next week. He'll eventually make it to the show, but Sanders won't make it any easier.
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