What�s
not to like about a Steeler touchdown??
I don�t understand the griping, from fans and media alike
(Mark Madden calls it �contrived�) about the inserting of Jerome Bettis in
goal-line situations.� In what other
sport, what other situation would fans complain on-line, boo at the stadium,
and media raise questions, when the move in question has worked 100% of the
time.� Six goal-line
situations, six touchdowns, highest red-zone touchdown percentage in the NFL.� What�s not to like??
Hines
for Miss
Will CBS be running a smile-o-meter this weekend, similar to
the 1st down line, and the K-zone, measuring Hines� smile to see if
he�s truly happy.� It�s really kind of
funny that the player that�s voted 2nd dirtiest in the NFL is being
criticized for not smiling enough.� It
seems like we have far too many amateur (�..and I do mean amateur)
psychologists on this site.� Further, to
link his failure to flash his pearly whites to complaints about the QB, and
then on to a lack of effort on Hines part is entirely without basis.� The only complaint that I�ve heard Hines air
is that Ben hasn�t yet learned to trust his receivers enough to put the ball in
the air in anticipation of their
break.� And, whaddayaknow�.Hines appears
to be right on this subject!!� Don�t get
me wrong.� Ben has been great!!� He evades pressure, he throws the ball on
target while on the run, he�s poised, he�s a
leader.� From what I�ve seen though, he�s
not consistently hitting the receiver on the break.� More often than not, his receiver comes open
and is awaiting the ball.� I�m sure that
Ben will work on this and get better.� In
fact, Hines last catch on Sunday, Ben hit him beautifully on the break.� What about Hines lack of
effort.� You gotta be kidding
me!!� Check out his respective catches at
the end of the 1st quarter, and at the end of the half on
Sunday.� He leaps through the air to make
a one-handed grab on the former.� He goes
low, and hangs on to the ball on the latter, despite having a defender�s arm
looped through his own.� But he�s not
smiling�.must be something wrong.� Give
it a rest!!
Taking
the air out of the ball
Cowher�s record of 83-1-1 with an 11-point lead has been
characterized as a �meaningless� statistic.�
There are plenty of meaningless stats; this just doesn�t happen to be
one of them.� Just last week, the Arizona
Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks lost, each in the final 9 minutes,
respective leads of 16 and 17 points.�
That this has happened to Cowher only twice in 85 attempts spanning 13
seasons really is remarkable.� Similar to
Bettis situation referenced above, what�s not to like about his type of success
rate???� Cowher clearly has his
weaknesses; this isn�t one of them.�
Plax
It�s too much to ask for the Steelers to make an exception
and negotiate a contract during the season, but let�s not assume
they can simply go out and sign another quality wide-out as was suggested
earlier this week.� Let�s not forget�we
passed on Chad Pennington to take Plax.�
Let�s not forget, as we�re seeing now, he�s making the plays, with Ben,
that we had always hoped he would make.�
Let�s not forget that his mere presence has to contribute to Hines�
effectiveness.� Let�s also not forget
that this guy really has demonstrated an unselfish attitude, said all the right
things lately when he had 3 receptions after 2 games, continued to block
effectively, etc.� If we can�t sign him,
let�s consider Franchising him.� I�m, admittedly, not very well informed on
this process, the $$$ amount that we would not to fork over�..but I do know
that we should keep Plax.
Let me close with attributing my prediction that the
Steelers will be Tyrone Poole�s daddy in the upcoming Halloween match, to my
friend Joe the Prophet, Zenmaster of Southern New Hampshire.� Future offering my contain prophecies from
Joe the Prophet, should he be so moved.