The Stillers are 5-1 for the
first time since the 2001 season.� I�m
sure yinz remember, we went to the AFC Championship game that season.� The win against Dallas wasn�t that pretty,
but it was as good of a football game as you�ll see.� It may have been a costly victory though and fortunately we go to
our bye weekend to rest some key players.�
The Stiller hot tub at UPMC will surely be working overtime over the
next two weeks.
Injuries include:
- Big Ben: Able to play but roughed up.
- Duce:�
Same as Ben.
- Scott:�
Addition by subtraction on this injury but appears to be hurt
enough to be out awhile.
- Casey:�
Not sure the true extent of his injury, but if it is severe as
reports are coming out, that is a huge blow to the defense.
- Colclough:� Roughed up.
- Logan:� Out
- K Bell:� Who is he?
Some
Notes:
QB:� Big Ben is for real.� Parcells commented on him and he is on his
way to winning his 4th rookie of the week award.� He showed incredible toughness, patience and
poise.� If you aren�t on the Big Ben R.
bandwagon, I don�t know what the hell is wrong with you.� Ben played a near perfect game going 21/25
for 193 yards, two TDs and more importantly zero picks.� There weren�t any near picks either.� He was sacked three times, one of which was
his knee hitting as soon as he released the ball.� Even though he didn�t put up huge numbers, he did something today
that we�ve been screaming for.� He hit
multiple receivers.� Plax and Hines had
good games but Ben hit� El, Riemersma,
Tuman and Staley.� This type of usage of
multiple receivers is impressive for a young QB.� Ben played a smart game.
RB:� Strong game by Duce and he
wasn�t 100% with a sore groin and toe and now ankle or knee.� He his the holes hard and with authority
gaining 93 yards on 18 carries keeping his average above five yards carry.� The Bus had eight yards on five carries and
the game winning TD.� I don�t really
care who scores and if Bettis gets a TD after Duce does the work so be it.� Bettis can run for two yards, he can fall
for two yards but he was engulfed when Duce was out.�� I was really surprised Bettis ran outside on his TD run.� Dallas was stacked in the goal line and
their lateral movement was as quick as UNIV of Miami.� They committed to the inside and the Bus wisely read the inside
push.
WRs:� Good all around effort today
and I�ll include the TEs in this category.�
They didn�t have pro bowl games, stat wise, but Plax, Ward, Jay and
Tuman made solid and often some difficult catches.
Defense:� Far too much running room
allowed but overall OK.� Very little
pressure to all out pressure.� The
secondary players made the majority of the stops with 26 tackles.� The LBs attributed 13 tackles and the
interior guys had four stops.� The
defense played when they needed to play, which was in the second half.� Scott and Stuvaints each missed an easy INT
that may have resulted in a TD.� Scott
was horrible and his injury doesn�t hurt the Stillers that much.� Kimo had the big recovery after Vinnie did a
Maddox.� I said last week that our
secondary is our weakness and I firmly believe that tonight.� They were hitting hard but giving up way too
much.� They gave little respect to Glenn
or K. Johnson and they torched us.� The
biggest stat against the Stiller D was allowing Dallas to convert two third
down conversions over 18 yards each, one being a draw play.� I�m not sure if Hope is really hitting that
hard or if his helmet is just to big.�
SPEC Teams:� Decent effort.� Ike Taylor was welcomed to the NFL and
fumbles but ARE was alert and saved disaster.�
The kicking game was decent and I believe Reed kicked for two
touchbacks.� Gardocki was outclassed by Dallas
punter McBriar who averaged 50 yards per punt to Gardocki�s 43.� Gardocki was brought to PGH because he never
had a punt blocked.� He was also signed
because of his angle punting reputation.�
We have not seen any angle punting from him.
Coaching:� Bill won his first
game as a head coach against the CowGirls.�
I really can�t criticize Bill that much tonight.� My only two points of criticism is putting
in Bettis when Duce was out.� The Dallas
D was far too quick and Bettis had little chance.� Things are looking good for the B&G and I cannot fathom what
the Bus brings to the table than Haynes.�
My other point is directed at Bill and his coordinators, because they
didn�t come out of the gates looking all that prepared or focused.�� We ran a few trickery plays but
failed.� They were slow to develop and
telegraphed.� We ran them to the
outside, which was into Dallas� strength on lateral movement.��� Dick L., IMO should have harassed Vinnie
T. all day.� We did record five sacks
but as we saw in the 4th quarter, harassing Vinnie is easy and
results in turnovers.� Cowher showed
patience and some situational awareness inside two minutes with zero timeouts
and getting his offense to calm down and chew some clock.� I�m sure Bill will get ripped apart on the
boards, but I can�t really seem to nail him today.
Penalties:� 6 for 45 yards and
many negated some good gains.� Some were
legit and some were ticky tack, like Hines� holding call.� Six games into the season at 5-1 require
more discipline than what we�ve seen. �Call it how you saw it but I think the officiating crew did a
fairly decent job today.� We made mental
mistakes.
In
conclusion, this was by far our toughest test so far.� We hanged, capitalized and won.�
Ben showed the NFL he could play in tough games against a decent
defense.� The upcoming bye is much
needed and will be a good two weeks to work on basics and getting healthy
before we go against two currently undefeated teams.� Our schedule doesn�t get easier after the bye with Philly and the
Pats and then two division games on the road.�
We play four teams (NE, PHIL, NYG, & NYJ) that are 19-1 right
now.� Much to be happy about tonight for
the Stiller Nation.� A tough win on the
road with no turnovers.� Lets get our
players healed and will see you after the bye week against the Iggles.
A
special thanks to Still Diesel and his efforts to put on a Stillers.Com
tailgate party at Dallas.� Stillers.Com
purchased a keg of beer and it was open to the B7G faithful.� Diesel will be at a few more away games and some
games at Heinz.� Look for the
Stillers.Com banner and have a brew on us.