varaven45

You are right. Cam has some fetish for turning (or trying to turn) his FBs into Jerry Rice or something. Just block for Rice and open up some holes. Isnt that we did for Arian Foster last year ? Cmon man !

Yep. We needed to pound it yesterday at 3rd and 1 (w/5 min left) and actually make it. We could have run out the clock. Its almost as if we never make it on 3rd and 1 anymore. Can we not pound anymore ? I keep hear about our road grading OL and FB Leach but yet even with Rice we cannot convert these 3rd and shorts. Either our OL is mediocre at best or Rice is just a slasher. I would love to pick up a big, fast, strong runner to complement Ray Rice, somebody like a Peyton Hillis or Trent Richardson (Bama). Yeah, I know I am talking off season but this team needs to run the dang ball.

For what its worth - Big win for AFCN lead ! We seemd to let up after 31-14 and should have kept the foot on the gas. We were damn lucky to have won. If this game is in Cincy and they have Green, we are are sitting in 3rd place at 6-4. The team (D) showed resiliency at the end but again almost gave it away. Mc Phee was a beast ! Jimmy Smith matured alot today. He's going to be good ! The O line needs to put games away (i.e. 3rd and 1 on our 38 with 5 min to go). Got to finish er off there ! Rice may not ever be the hammer but team needs to figure it out. We wont survive many like this ! Dalton was very good but D was giving up way too many long passes. Joe was good at times, not so at others. We need to get Evans to contribute .....soon. Torrey Smith needs a haircut. Where were the TEs today ? San Fran is stealth on D and rugged in the run game. Sound familiar ? We (especially Joe and the O) will have to play flawless to win. Looks like a Harbaugh snot knocker on Thursday !

Give him (Ray) the damn ball !!!!!!

Looking at glass half full here but pehaps this will be a blessing in disguise. We've witnessed the "stepping up" of Torrey Smith while Lee Evans has been on the mend. While Lee Evans is no Ray Lewis, the same principle applies: another guy steps up and grows. Maybe this is Ellerbe's chance to shine and make plays, while Ray is on the mend.

the mentality of we are going to line up, run the ball and there's not a damn thing you are going to do about it ! We have gotten so far away from this mentality, its no wonder our offense and passing game (Flacco) struggles. You can argue that passing will certainly open up the run but we dont effectively run anymore and havent for several games. I am not sure, under Cam, we can effectively resurrect our running game and re-establish our identity as a strong or at least a formidable running team. Its critical that this team re-establishes and COMMITS to the run- and I dont mean doubling Rice's carries to 10-15 times per game. This team needs to generate a consistent 100-150 yards via Rice, Williams and Leach. This will take pressure off Joe, give our O some needed confidence, open up play action, and at least make our offense less predictable. Obvious ? Yes. Necessary ? Yes. Comon sense ? Yes. Then why aren't we doing it ?

Crav, We have to hope the NFL season and our playoff hopes take on the form of NCAA college basketball (March madness) and whoever gets the hots hand. All you have to do is look at the last couple years. The Packers were dead last year but got in as a wild card and got the hot hand. I recall the Steelers doing the same thing a few years ago. The losses to Tenn, Jax and Seattle are in the rear view mirror. Its time to brush that off, beat Cincy and get the hot hand !

Max, I agree we are wasting Ray but he isnt Jamal. Jamal was the hammer who could carry the whole Offense on his back. In fact, we continue to seriously miss that element. I miss a hammer in the backfield. My point: Ray is being wasting but our entire disfunctional offense is wasting away before our eyes. That coupled with our very good defense, which is also being wasted, may end up derailing our hopeful season.

We just completed the trifecta - 3 laid eggs in Tennessee, Jax and Seattle and blew our season. Sure, its not over but we opened the door to the Steelers and gave away home field. Maybe Harbaugh, the media and the fans should brainwash the players that every Sunday is the Super Bowl. Every game is the season's last game - if you lose you go home. Many people like to compare this seasons team (or at least its D) to the 2000 SB team. Not even close or even on the same planet. That team (or at least the D) played like every play (forget game) was its last. I am surprised Ray & Ed Reed havent had a greater influence and sense of urgency, given their so-called desire to win a SB. I wonder what gives ?

Yep. We just completed the trifecta - 3 laid eggs in Tennessee, Jax and Seattle and blew our season. Sure, its not over but we opened the door to the Steelers and gave away home field. Maybe Harbaugh, the media and the fans should brainwash the players thta every Sunday is the Super Bowl. Every game is the season's last game - if you lose you go home. Many people like to compare this seasons team (or at least its D) to the 2000 SB team. Not even close or even on the same planet. That team (or at least the D) played like every play (forget game) was its last. I am surprised Ray & Ed Reed havent had a greater influence and sense of urgency, given their so-called desire to win a SB. I wonder what gives ?

Special Teams are indeed important eh ?

Crav, Great news on Evans. Dod you mean Grubbs (instead of Yanda) ?

Crav, Even if the Steelers lose at Cincy, they are far, far from being close to done. If they lose, they would be 6-4. Looking at their schedule, they could and should win the rest of thier games. The only difficult reamining game is at SF. I can see them going 11-5. As far as Cincy, they have 4 with us and the Steelers. They have Houston at home in December. Lets say they split those four games with us and Steelers; that Houston game becomes pretty significant. I can those guys going 12-4 or 11-5. We just need to take care of business, game by game, starting Sunday, and we can control our destiny.

A game ball to Mike Tomlin for delay of game penalty and foregoing the FG attempt !

And he doesnt even have the services of Evans !

Crav and Yager, The best part of last night, aside from winning,was watching Cam bear hugging Joe on the sidelines after the winning TD throw. Who knows, maybe, just maybe, these guys took a step forward.......together.

DC, Running the ball. What's that ? We havent seen a really consistent running game since we had the hammer ~ JLewis. You might argue we had a decent running game 2-3 years ago - the same year I recall Willis and Le Ron had 2 long TDs against Cowboys (sat night game). . Really, I share your frustration, DC, but I dont see us having a solid running attack until we (not necesarily in this order) : 1. Have a hammer to complement Ray Rice. Ray is a great runner but he cant carry a team on his back like Jamal Lewis did. Maybe next yr or after ? 2. Establish a healthy, consistent OL with solid continuous play at LT and RT. No more musical chairs on the OL. 3. Get our OC issues straightened out. So, until that happens, we will get more of the same - 1 week a good running game, another week a good passing game, next weeek - neither. Fourth week - who the heck knows ?

Crav, Does that girl play nose tackle ?

Exactly... Joe and Elite QB in the same sentence is premature at best right now. Sunday night will offer a test of sorts for young Joe.

Anyone know the status of these two guys ? I guess we'll get an update today or tomorrow.

Good points Yager ! I would add character and chemistry to missing elements in this years squad. But its not too late.. We could take a big step in the right direction Sunday night.

Dee, Thanks ....,a Freudian slip I supppose ! Actually, LeBeau could probably turn that dude into another Jack Lambert !

Max, I dont care who is hurt or out ? The Steelers could put Napolean Kryptonite at MLB and he would play lights out Sunday night. That team w/o Farrior,Harrison and Woodley (2nd half) put the dang clamps on Brady and made him look like Kyle Boller. The Steelers are deep at LB and LeBeau will compensate with his secondary and creative schemes. Tomlin will have his boys pumped. It will be a bloodbath !

Yep. Since we took yinz out behind the woodshed in week 1, conventional wisdom says yinz will reciprocate by similar beatdown score. Perhaps yinz will, maybe not. We will see Sunday night. ,

Sounds like a typical Steeler-Raven snot knocker to me !