Steel City Jim

If the Steelers "stole" one in Miami last Sunday, then the Saints game was retribution. Three factors contributed mightily to their demise in New Orleans. First, the crowd. There wasn't the "12th Man" -- I think it was the 13th, 14th and 15th man. This is not by way of excuse. It's the way things are. But the Steelers, particularly on offense, were conspicuously hampered by the crowd noise. It prevented them from getting off the ball crisply and allowed the Saints to control the line of scrimmage.

I also think that the refs contributed. How they could call Hines Ward for offensive interference on that pass play is beyond me. They also got James Harrison for roughing the passer. A very questionable call. But the Steelers have targets on their backs. They are poster boys for "dirty hits" and if in doubt, referees will call close plays against them. Again, that's life.

Finally, I must give credit to Drew Brees. I am convinced that he can thread a needle with a football. Time after time he was able to zip a ball to a spot, and a tiny spot at that, where only his receiver could catch the ball. My hat is off to him.

In the meantime, "woulda, coulda, shouda" comes into it. If Miller holds on to the ball toward the end of the game when the Steelers were marching either to go ahead or tie ... And Miller is one of the most reliable guys with a ball in his hands we have.

Gotta say, though, that Ziggy Hood held up pretty well playing for the injured and invaluable Aaron Smith. That's not to say that I dissected films about his play, but I didn't see that he did anything obvious to embarrass himself.

On another bright note, it looks like we have found a kickoff returner who can get the ball past the 20-yard line. Sanders have been pretty nifty in knifing through and finding a crease. Now, if he only stays healthy.

Have to say that every Pittsburgh pundit, TV, radio, newspaper, picked the Saints to win last night. One guy said that the Steelers weren't going to be 15-1, and this was an away game that smacked of their losing. All were right. From a Pittsburgh perspective, if it's one game and they snap back next Monday night against Cincinnati, it won't be too bad. But if it starts a swoon like last year when they went into the tank for five straight games, well, that's another matter. So, we'll be watching next Monday night to see a comeback. Actually, they better do well against the Bengals because the game after that is against the Bs, Brady and Belechick, and that is never pleasant in these parts.

-- How long will Wade Phillips keep his job with the 'Boys? The same for the Broncos coach. I haven't bothered to memorize his name as he's headed for the trash heap, and quickly. Seattle fans ... your coach has the resume, on the college level, that is ... but he's a loser in the NFL. How 'bout dem Jets getting shut out. Rex Ryan will learn to keep his mouth shut ... when dogs quit barking. The Lions are beginning to roar. The 'Skins are paper Tigers ... and they're old and McNabb ain't got it any more. Favre is a nut ... playing with two broken bones in his ankle. Iron Man contests are an aberration ... see Steel City Jim essays, ad nauseum, about Cal Ripken, Jr., known as St. Cal in Ballimer. The longer you keep an aged, decrepit guy in the lineup, the more you destroy the team concept and the will to win. St. Cal killed the Orioles for years. Only now with Showalter have they shown signs of life.

-- The World Series has been interesting. Having new teams in the Series is refreshing, even though it has killed ratings. The Giants' pitching has been a revelation. The only problem is that you have to see the Bushes all the time, and that's painful.

Don't look now, but Pitt is 3-0 in the Big East and could get a pretty good bowl. The Panthers lost to Utah and Notre Dame on the road, which is tough. They seem to be getting together now ... and maybe, just maybe, the Big East competition isn't quite Utah.

What a game that Saints-Vikings game was. I am glad that I am not an avid Saints or Vikings fan as I would have been a wreck by the end of that game. The sales of blood pressure medicine in those cities must be off the charts. Neither team had more than a 7-point lead at any one time. Turnovers played such an important role, and the Vikings got the short end of that problem. I think I noticed that Adrian Peterson runs with the ball too far to his right side with his elbow sticking up in the air. It makes it easier for a defender to pop the ball loose. He should cradle the ball closer to his chest. But if Childress doesn't know this, who am I?

I found myself rooting for the Vikings because of the pounding the aged Bret Favre took throughout the game. I kept thinking about that movie "North Dallas Forty." It showed how the pro players in that movie couldn't even get out of bed the morning after a game. The way Favre was getting crushed it is a wonder if he can get out of bed for a month. How he would ever consider coming back for yet another season is beyond me. He certainly proved what he is all about as a pure football player and a courageous guy this season. He ought to go quietly into the night and await his election to the Hall of Fame.

I have to say that Rex Ryan got the most out of his Jets as there was to get out. He took over a moribund franchise and turned it around ... with a raw rookie quarterback at that. I can't say that I love Rex Ryan. I could do without his bravado. But I can't argue with his ability to put a defense together. It shows how much difference the right coach can make. But I wonder how long he can go with his bluster until his players and fans tire of it. Oh, it will be fine as long as he wins. But if he slips he may well be considered to be a buffoon.

I am happy that Peyton Manning will play in another Super Bowl. The guy is great. He can read and react to defenses like no other. With the Jets taking a 17-6 lead in the first half I found myself rooting for the Colts. I really think that the Jets, without taking anything away from their success this season, were pretenders. Manning and the Colts are the real thing as they showed with their almost perfect regular season. He also did this without his favorite receiver, Marvin Harrison. But other guys stepped up. You also have to give credit to his offensive line. It protects his like no other.

So, I am happy to look forward to a super Super Bowl in two weeks. I think Manning versus Brees is a dream matchup, although when the chips are down my Monopoly money will be on Manning.

As you know, the Steelers had their bye on Sunday. Interestingly, Mike Tomlin gave his players the entire week off. This created some speculation pro and con in these parts. Some felt that they should have been practicing at least a little. But some say that as the bye week came almost in the middle of the season, giving them some time to themselves was a great idea. We'll see what happens the rest of the season.

I was interested in some games that were played Sunday, mainly for what effect they may have on the Steelers for the rest of 2009. The crucial game was the Ravens-Broncos. The Steelers play the Broncos next Monday night in Denver, and they have two games against the Ravens (Nov. 29 and Dec. 27).

I think that the tone of the Ravens-Broncos game was set on the very first play from scrimmage. The Broncos had taken the kickoff and on the first play Orton faded to pass. But off the left side of the Ravens' line, Jarret Johnson blitzed and buried Orton before he quite knew what time it was. Johnson came in untouched. The Broncos were not prepared for the type of physical play of the Ravens, and while they tried valiantly, the Ravens took it to them on the ground and in the air.

As the Steelers play a similar style of physical football as the Ravens, Orton and company will be well advised to go to school on the Ravens game in their preparation for the Steelers. What is of great concern to Steelers fans is that the game will be played in Denver in that thin air. That will be advantageous to the Broncos. The Steelers will just have to prepare for it.

I was also interested in the Giants-Eagles game. I think the results show that the Eagles are for real, particularly when McNabb is on, and that the Giants aren't quite there right now.

The other game that was of note was the return of Favre to Lambeau Field and his ability to bounce back and defeat his old team in their backyard. Favre and Peterson are a lethal combination. If Favre can remain healthy, the Vikings will be a force down the stretch and into the playoffs.

It looks like the Jets have settled in as a better than average but not a championship caliber team. Miami undressed them Sunday. Wasn't that Ginn a find for Miami?

Congrats to the Rams for ending a long losing streak.

-- In Sunday night's World Series game, the $200 million prevailed over the $113 million. I thought the game was pretty much over when the $200 million took a two-run lead in the top of the first. I didn't think Blanton would do much. But he settled down and the $113 million came from behind to tie the game going into the ninth.

It was past my bedtime at this point and since I really don't have a dog in this race, I went to sleep. But $13 million's at-bat with two outs, and his eventual single, and then his steal of second and third when the $113 million were shifted for $20.6 million, was brilliant. Of course, $33 million's double for the $200 million was crucial and ultimately was the game winner. If you are a $200 million fan, it was a magnificent win. If you are a $113 million fan, it was pure torture. I know the feeling on both ends.

I can tell you this morning that I will never again give any credence to the so-called experts who predict the outcome of an NFL season before the season starts. Practically all pundits base their opinions on the previous season's results, and year after year, with some exceptions, they fail to see what is going on with various teams. Of course, injuries play a major part in how a season unfolds, but who figured:

1. New Orleans having a perfect season so far as guided by the passing arm of Drew Brees? Boy, did they undress the previously unbeaten Giants this past Sunday.

2. Minnesota also having a perfect season so far. And I thought that adding Favre would be a disruptive force in the land of the Vikings. I wondered what they were thinking bringing in an over-the-hill quarterback. But with Favre's arm and Peterson's running, they have been unstoppable so far.

3. Indianapolis' perfect record isn't quite as astounding given that Peyton Manning is at the helm. But the Colts had many changes, including the head coach. But there they are.

4. The Broncos? I thought their new head coach was in such disarray before the season started that I would have paid him off and brought someone else in. But Orton seems to have gotten new life in the thin air and they dominated San Diego last night IN San Diego. I saw Cowher predict that San Diego would rise up to defeat Denver last night. Hey, it didn't happen.

5. The demise of the Titans? How can a team that had something like 13 wins last year start off 0-6 this year? I know Haynesworth is gone. But could he have made that big a difference? And they have one of the best coaches in the league in Jeff Fisher.

6. The Ravens defense. Has the Ravens defense finally pooped out? The front doesn't seem too bad, but the backs are getting beat time after time. Are they missing Rex Ryan that much? And this happens to the defense when the offense is really doing a job.

7. The Jets' rise and fall? I thought the Jets were going to roll at the beginning of the season. Their defense was blitzing like crazy and Sanchez seemed to be a phenom. But things have settled down there. Rex will have to inject something into that group.

8. What's that noise out of Cincinnati? The Bengals look like the real thing.

The Steelers had a ho-hum game against one of the league's most pitiful franchises, the Browns. I thought Cleveland was on the right track when it got Savage from Baltimore to take over football operations. But it shows in sports where a guy can be a genius in one place and a dunce in another. Tom Donahoe is another example. He did great things in Pittsburgh before his run in with Bill Cowher. The Rooneys went with Cowher, and Donahoe was out. After a year or so, he caught on at Buffalo. But he couldn't work his magic there and after a few years was out of a job again.

The Steelers are emerging in 2009 as a passing offense. That's what they were last year, too, as a result of the meltdown of the running game. Ben was forced to pass last year with success. He also got to run the no-huddle offense, which he loves. This year, while the running game has shown some spark, it's the passing game that has moved them back to a tie for first place in the AFC North. Hines Ward is as good as ever, and when they double-team Holmes, the Steelers have found a new kid, Mike Wallace.

But of all things, the Steelers, yes, the Steelers have discovered the tight end! For years and years, the Steelers used their tight ends as another blocker, seldom, if ever, throwing to them. But Heath Miller is second in the league in catches by a tight end right now. It's been effective, too. So, as Bruce Arians says, we'll take what they give us.

The Browns were not a true test. But the upcoming three games are going to be pivotal for the Steelers. They have Minnesota at home this Sunday, and they go on the road after a bye week to take on the Broncos. Then they have Cincinnati at home. That's two undefeated teams in two games and one on a roll. A tall task if you ever saw one. At least Polamalu is back and the triumverate taking over for Aaron Smith are holding their own. The season could come down to these three games.

First, I must report a non-event. For the past four years, four other guys and I piled into a car and made the annual pilgrimage to Steeler training camp at St. Vincent's College, Latrobe, Pa., about a 50-mile drive from my home. Yesterday was the day we designated for this year's visit. So, with everyone on board by about 11:35 a.m., we headed east. But our first stop is a restaurant called DeSalvo's, which is housed in the old Latrobe railroad station. It's a very nice stop on the way to camp where the food is good and the conversation around the table is enlightening on many subjects.

We were aware that rain threatened the whole day. So, we came prepared with umbrellas, ponchos, you name it. While at lunch, we became aware of rain pounding on the roof of the restaurant. When we exited, the rain was still coming down quite heavily. But we persevered to camp and found our seats in the bleachers. After wiping the water from the benches, the sun miraculously appeared, and we settled in to wait for practice to begin.

Now to acquaint you with the setup: Our seats in the bleachers were precisely on the 50-yard line as the field spread out before us from left to right. Let's call that Field No. 1. Beyond this field, which is just below the bleachers, are two identical fields parallel the one just before us, Fields No. 2 and No. 3. To our right, and down a little grade from the end zone to our far right, lies another field that starts at about our end zone and runs perpendicular to the other three fields. We'll call that Field No. 4.

At exactly 1:50 p.m. the players begin their descent from their dormitories on top of a hill opposite where we are sitting in the bleachers. But instead of coming over to the field in front of the bleachers, as they had in the previous three years we attended, they headed directly to Field No. 4, a good distance from where we were sitting. They began to stretch. We felt they would stretch and come to Field No. 1. They began some drills. We thought they would come back to Field No. 1 right afterwards. To make a long story short, they never came over to Field No. 1. The entire practice was conducted on Field No. 4, and we couldn't see much of anything. We left after about an hour, thoroughly disgusted.

This morning I fund out that Field No. 4 is artificial turf, which is much less affected by wetness. So, with the threat of rain, they decided to use it exclusively. If you think we were miffed, one guy had driven in from New Jersey to watch practice. He was downright angry.

OK, enough of my frustrations from camp yesterday. So far, there haven't been too many concerns about the Steelers. Aside from some minor bumps and bruises, camp is a matter of getting veterans in football shape and evaluating rookies. As usual, some rookies have stood out. Among these are the first-round draft choice, Ziggy Hood, and an undrafted free agent runner, Isaac Redmond, from Bowie State. It looks like Limas Sweed has found his way around a pro football field. I still think he will replace Washington, who took off for Tennessee. A couple of cornerbacks have impressed as has another wide receiver, Mike Wallace, who has blazing speed and can be used for kick returns. The Steelers also welcomed back punter Daniel Sepulveda, who was injured and missed last season. How they won a Super Bowl with the minor league punting they had last year is beyond me.

I don't understand the Vikings signing Brett Favre. He was over-the-hill with the Jets. What is he going to do in Minnesota? They play the Packers twice. These will be interesting games, to say the least. If Childress was that anxious to have an experienced QB, I would have thought that he'd take a chance on Michael Vick. Vick carries some baggage, but he seems to be quite humble these days. A few completed passes, and most fans will forget his past transgressions ... even Eagle fans.

Don't look now, but the Pirates have won two in a row ... against the Brewers who had a 17-0 streak against them going into this mid-season. The Pirates are virtually conducting a tryout camp for the rest of the season wherein they will attempt to evaluate which of their brood had hack it in the Majors.

When I stated that baseball sucks, one of my Yankee fan followers said that the Yanks win because their management is smarter than their Pirate counterparts. Maybe so. But I think I would be pretty smart baseball-wise if I had $200-plus million to throw around in the free agent market. If financial genius is a rising market, baseball genius is having zillions for payroll.