oldno82

I refuse to watch NFL football behind pay walls. Screw 'em.

The way the Browns and Flacco started off, I thought the Texans might be in for a long day but CJ came around and did his thing while Joe self-destructed with 2 (!) pick-sixes and they were on back to back series. As you had mentioned before, Joe doesn't have the mobility to move around in the pocket and extend the play.

Yeah, he's been so productive, it's sometimes hard to remember he's only a rookie and this is his first long season. And he didn't practice the week before the last game he played in and sure did alright.

Well, we'll see how fit Andrews really is during practice next week. I think highly of him, of course, but Likely has really impressed me as well. Meanwhile, as of yesterday, Flowers hasn't practiced since for two weeks due to his calf injury. Hopefully, he's back at practice next week too though I haven't read anything to confirm that. Otherwise, sounds like all systems are 'go'. I'm going to watch the Browns game for sure today. I've always liked Flacco but I want to see the Browns lose. Their defense is right up there with the best.

Do you mean rotate them or use some 2 TE sets? I could see us doing both if Mark is healthy enough.

Mark Andrews was back at practice today, eight weeks after his injury. He must be a quick healer! Likely has been playing so well, though, I wouldn't rush him back just yet. Interesting problem as to which TE to play.

Right! They need to focus on the proverbial 'one game at a time'. I think they've got the talent this year to do it.

Right now I'm enjoying a 13-4 record and looking forward to watching the wild card teams duke it out this weekend. To me the season has already been a success.

I absolutely want to see at least a couple of post-season wins. But, I have to add that watching the Ravens this year was great entertainment and this season was just what I wanted to see. A Super Bowl would be the icing on the cake.

Yep, I agree that Harbs is doing the smart thing again, rested them up as much as possible Saturday then a normal practice week this week. I had no idea Joe has thrown interceptions at that pace but he will be an easy target on the pass rush. But we'll know for sure who we are playing after this coming weekend. Meanwhile, looks like we're gonna lose both Monken and MacDonald to other teams after the playoffs. That along with 20 players having their contracts up after this season and there will be quite the change coming next year. Hell, if we win it all, I'm thinking Harbs may retire. What else would he have to prove?

Funny thing, the only playoff team that I don't want to face is Miami again. Not that the other teams would be easy games, they would not, but Miami just has so much damned speed, and they'd be coming in with a chip on their shoulder after the thrashing we gave them.

I'm so glad we rested our injured and our starters as much as we could. So the Steelers travel up to Buffalo next week. Should be an interesting game to watch.

It doesn't hurt to give Cook a chance. We do miss Dobbins and Keaton, but Hill has been showing some speed of late.

If there was ever a game to rest your starters, this was it. The top seed was sewn up, the weather conditions were terrible and there was a great chance to get injured against a team that plays tough. Look at what happened to Watt. And we almost lost 2 players ourselves. Harbaugh did the smart thing.

Harbs said after the game that we avoided any injuries that would impact us in 2 weeks.

Well, I don’t know if it was just the weather but Pittsburgh doesn’t impress me.

Any word on if we had anybody get injured? Lousy game to watch. I’d like to see us play them in the playoffs.

Right!!!

I also think Huntley will do well. The backups on D are my biggest concern. The Steelers have a potent rushing duo and Rudolph the Red Nose Steeler has shown that their offense can put up points. Of course, how he does against the barrage of coverages and blitzes that MacDonald throws at him remains to be seen. Dee, I think we lose a close one but not to worry as what we need to accomplish is the avoidance of injuries in what is a meaningless game for us.

I'm for this.

Yep...I was not suggesting they replace Likely with Andrews. Just speculating that having both on the field at the same time could be of value in a few situations. I actually think Likely has worked his way into perhaps being the starter for next year but that's a long way from now. And you're right about Andrews getting back into game shape as opposed to just 'being over' his injury. Having depth is nice, isn't it?

I agree. Harbs said yesterday it's not going to be like a pre-season game in that they have only so many players now that they can rest at a time. They will be fielding a pretty full lineup so that should keep them focussed. Patrick Queen, who has an injury to his shoulder, said he loves playing the Steelers, and he will be playing. Snoop, I think, will be motivated too. If our defense holds up, we just might be able to beat these guys without Lamar, Stanley, and a few others. I'd be careful with our running backs and let Gordon handle most of the load. I'd sit Flowers as much as possible to allow him time to get over his calf injury. We might have to use some 3 TE sets. Any word on if Andrews will be available in 2 more weeks? Likely has been super taking his place but it would be neat to see what Monken would do if he has both available.

Not sure about this but I think it was implied by Stanley, or maybe it was Harbs, that there would be the usual practices. Perhaps they will rotate rest days for the first week or week and a half. I think after 2019, Harbs will have them on track and they have their own leaders who've been there before exhorting them on.

The Ravens announced today that Lamar is not going to play this Saturday. Also, Flowers, Zeitler, Beckham, Hamilton, Humphrey, Harrison, and Worley weren't at practice. Brandon Stephens and Ar'Darius Washington did practice. It personally don't expect Stanley or Moses to play but no official word on that. I think they'll rest anybody who has an injury as long as there is a replacement available.

That's what I've been thinking too, Tsyl. Our #2's, at least on offense, can be a match for the Steelers defense. I've got more confidence in Huntley than I used to, and I think we can use Gordon at RB and reserves at WR and TE and even O-line...not exclusively but certainly let these guys play most of the time and rest all the injured players like Hamilton, Stephens, Stanley, Flowers and others. If we lose, we lose but heal up for the playoffs run. If we win, great, but it's really not worth risking serious injuries to hurting starters. It's a delicate balancing act for Harbs , MacDonald, and Monken for sure.