thundercleetz

No one is making out Foxworth to be a star, but he is not horrible like you make him out to be. I am just saying he is more of a #2 corner trying to be a #1 for us. In doing that he gets the task of matching up against the opponent's best receiver, so yes, he is going to get picked on. He did a good job on Wayne last week, and while he did let up that big reception to Holmes, Holmes was pretty much quiet in the second half. Foxworth also did a good job in run support. Yes, he is a mismatch against the opponent's #1 receiver, but he has done a decent job in playing damage control. I do agree with you on the discipline problem. The defense was pretty clean last night though, so that is an improvement. At least we play a team next week that is penalized more than we are.

Great post bmw. As you stated, Dixon was no rookie. There was very much a "relief pitcher" effect last night. We prepared for Ben all week, and there was very limited tape available on Dixon. That actually worked in Dixon's favor. Before bashing Foxworth, we all know that he is not a #1 corner. He did let up that long pass to Holmes, but it was not because he was out of place. Foxworth was right behind Holmes, who was merely sitting in the middle of the field. I think Foxworth underestimated the ability of Dixon to throw the ball across his body to the middle of the field. Once again, there is not much tape on Dixon. When it is all said and done, Dixon only threw for 145 yards. Foxworth got beat, but he kept his head up and still made some plays. He was solid in the run game. The defense did not play bad. The big thing is that they did not break, the continually put Pittsburgh in third down situations by stopping the run. Ultimately, that caused some errant throws by Dixon, one of them leading to the Kruger INT.

McClain came back into the game and played it out, but he never got the ball again after that. I am not sure if there is a correlation there or not. Back on the topic of Rodgers, he has been sacked 44 times this season, that is four sacks a game and nine more than the next most sacked QB (Schaub). If we cannot get to Rodgers we really cannot expect to win. Something else to watch out about Rodgers, the guy can run. He has 45 rushes for 247 yards (a 5.5 average) and 3 TDs.

Did anyone hear his pre-game interview on NBC? He left his QB out to dry essentially calling him a wuss. In summary he said he does not understand why Ben practiced all week and then didn't play. Hines also said the locker room is "50-50" on the concussion issue and basically said Ben should have just played. Hines of course, said he would have played. Here is part of what Hines said in addition to the interview after the game: What an ass-hole! I don't care what you think, you never put down your QB like that. Not only that, but nice confidence in your back-up QB. Ben has had four concussions in the last four years, this is not something to play with. How would you like it Hines if you one day woke up and couldn't remember your children's names. Is being a "competitor" really worth it then? This is why the issue of concussions should be in the hands of the players and purely in the hands of the doctors.

I was just thinking about this as well. This will be a big challenge for us. Their defense is stout, but the strength of that defense is clearly the secondary. We ran the ball againt Pittsburgh, we need to pound the ball against the Pack as well. More than anything, we need to cut down on the penalties that kill our drives and keep the Packers pass rush off of Joe Flacco. We cannot afford that ankle to flare up. This is the battle between the top two penalized teams in the league. Like us, they play their secondary very aggressively in man coverage (except their corners are a lot more physical and can actually play bump and run). But there should be opportunities on offense to take some shots if our run game is effective. The run game is key though. On defense we need to get pressure on Rodgers. He is one of the most sacked QB in the league. If we cannot get pressure on him, he will tear us up as the guy simply does not throw INTs. Our blitzes last night were not bad, Pittsburgh just picked them up perfectly. Mattison needs to continue to step his game up. Ryan Grant is very average, I believe we will shut their run game down. But Rodgers does not need a run game to be effective, that is why pressure on defense is key.

We just need to beat GB next week. That is all we need to focus on. Beat Green Bay, then we get a gimme against Detriot, putting us at 8-5 with a rematch in Pittsburgh. These next two weeks are just as important as yesterday. We came out fighting yesterday, I don't expect that to change against Green Bay on MNF. BTW, after last night Green Bay has the #1 defense in the league and the #6 offense in the league. They are not to be taken lightly.

Webb, Carr, Landry, Edwards, and Gooden also played hard-nosed games on defense. Anyone who says we don't show any passion or urgency needs to watch Webb and Edwards play, these guys bust their ass up and down the field. I have seen Edwards make so many plays from back-end pursuit because he never gives up on the play. This guy has been a gem, making that dreaded 2004 draft class not seem as bad.

You can go ahead and be depressed. I am loving this win. Any win against the Steelers is a huge boost to my week.

At least we will play a team next week that get penalized more than us.

I completely agree. Flacco was obviously gimpy on that ankle. He was not stepping into his throws causing inaccurate passes. Nonetheless Flacco manned it out and managed to drive us down the field multiple times. The key thing is that he did not make any terribly bad decisions.

We will just agree to disagree then. I don't see how you can discredit the coaching in why they were winning. They have the #1 defense for goodness sakes. Tomlin and his staff did a EXCELLENT job of protecting Dixon. He was touched maybe once. I am not so sure it was bad calls by Mattison, the blitzes were timed well, a lot better than usual when we jump early giving the offensive line time to adjust. The offensive line picked them up everytime, kudos to the Steelers coaching staff!

I don't care if that was against their third string QB, A WIN IS A WIN, against Pittsburgh none the less. We live to fight another day. BTW, that INT by Kruger was no gimmy in the breadbasket, that was a very athletic play.

HOT DAMNNNNN KRUGER BABY!!!!!!

Yeah, those blitzes are pretty bad calls by Pittsburgh. That bootleg call was terrible as well.

The Steelers still have the #1 defense in the NFL and one of the top coaching staffs. Ben or not, we knew it was going to be a close game.

LADARIUS!!!!!!!!

Oh man, that was too close. Time to step up defense. EDIT: I like that last playcall. Flacco needs to give Heap a chance to catch the ball. But then again, you don't want to risk an INT. With that said, Heap should be looking over the outside shoulder to the corner of the endzone where only the receiver can have a play on the ball.

Has to be a touchdown here. I don't want this thing to go to overtime or be in the hands of our kicker for that matter.

YEEEEEAAAAAAHHHH BOOOOYYYYYYY!!!!! RAY EFFFFFINNGGGG RICCCCCE!

What a bad timeout. A good coach has a play ready in the event it is fourth and short. That decision to go for it needs to be decided ahead of time.

Nice splits Clayton.

Our blitzes are being picked up every single time, it is so frustrating!!!!

Mattison needs to copy some of the Steelers blitzes.

It is about time Chris Carr makes a play as a returner.

Man, if Brian Billick only had Ray Rice he would still have his job.