Steeler pre-season Index, thru 3

Steeler Index, thru Pre-season Game 3:�

Resurrecting this component of the old Week in Review, circa 2001-03, because, well, it�s fast and it�s fun plus it takes as little effort as the Steelers displayed last night.�����

1. The Steelers have scored 8 TD in 3 pre-season games: three by O, three by D and two by ST.� That O-side production won�t get it if only because that D and ST rate (1.625 TD per game) doesn�t figure to hold.� For instance, last season Baltimore led the League with four return and six D-side scores (0.625 per).��

2. Excluding a meaningless Hail Mary INT at the end of H1 last night, the Steeler O-ones have had 12 possessions in these 3 games.� The results?� 1 FG made, 1 FG missed, 1 INT, 1 fumble and 8 punts.�

3. Four Steeler QB have combined for 5.64 YPA.� Last season, three teams did worse: Baltimore (5.50), Washington (5.59) and Chicago (5.61).� Miami, considered a joke, flung it at 5.79.� Smells like 1998: that year, the PSO finished 27^th in YPA, with a rate of 5.69.� 1999?� 29^th at 5.83.� One common factor?� Smurf WR, then and now.�

4. So far, pre-season QB ratings invert the projected PS pecking order.� St. Pierre leads with a respectable 87.2; Charlie Batch is in a mediocre 77.9; Maddox a poor 59.5 and Roethlisberger a miserable 30.0.� Of course, those numbers are meaningful in direct relation to passes attempted, which is to say, not so much on an individual basis, but cumulatively...���

5. Naturally, it�s not all on the QB as, certainly, the WR have underperformed too.� So far, Cedrick Wilson, the FO�s premiere FA acquisition last winter and all-Latrobe from all reports, has 3 receptions for 37 yards.� ARE?� 3 for 30.� By means of comparison: Zamir Cobb, one year removed from camp phenom, now is a near certain cut.� Cobb has posted 2 receptions for a Wilsonesque 37 yards.�

6. Steeler receivers have tallied 1 TD; that by John Kuhn, who figures to be gone this time next week.��

7. On the plus side, Steeler TE are far more involved in the pass game than is normal here.� Through 3 games, four TE have combined for 10 receptions; that�s 21% of the Steelers� 48 completions.� Over the past four years, three Steeler starting QB have averaged 290 completions per season.� Maintaining that 21% rate through an average campaign, PS TE would project to grab 60 balls.� A big number compared to 24, 18, 24 and 17, the unit�s tally running thru this Millennium.�

8. On the downside, 48 completions in 3 games trend towards a sub-par 256 over 16.� Not good, plus it�s not likely Walter Rasby is going to lead the way though, at this point both Big Blocking Walt and Matt Kranchick have been more productive than both R1 Heath Miller and incumbent Jerame Tuman.� They�ve been more productive than all WR too, excluding Nate Washington.� So, that�s pre-season ball.

9. Willie Parker has 11 carries for 112 yards, an astonishing 10.2 YPC.� On the downside, 109 of those have come on 3 trips, but never mind.� Anyway, three other PS tailbacks have combined for 159 yards in 57 carries.� None of those are averaging even 3.0 YPC.� Another way of expressing this: compared to Parker, that trio has (better than) five times the trips, but just 47 yards more.� That is, 46 carries for 47 yards.

10. Amazing but true:� Noah Herron has 3 receptions for (-1) yard.�

11. Amazing but true, deux:� In the first half, the PS D-starters limited the Skins to 1/6 in 3^rd down conversions.� Normally, that�s a prime component in establishing the kind of TOP bulge that is requisite here.� Not so last night as the Snyders controlled the ball for 19:23 of that half, rolling up 234 yards total offense.� That includes thirteen first downs, twelve coming on 1^st or 2^nd down.� On average, about 70% of all first downs come early, not 92% as was true last night.� That is, down in DC the early down D was about 8 first downs to the bad.

Normally, the starters play little in Game 4.� However, Coach Cowher should consider an exception as, especially on the O-side, these PS need the work.�� They will face Carolina Thursday, 6 days after the debacle at the Capitol.� From there, 10 days �til it begins for real, plenty of down time available between the 1^st and 9/11.� As is, well, they presently have the look of a squad that�ll get plenty of rest from 2 January on.���

Finally, Tuesday all teams must get to 65.� Typically, the PS staff, like most others, profess there will be some tough decisions.� That�s just something to say; in fact, there are few bumps on the road to 65, let alone 71, with Euro-exemptions.� FWIW, here�s my first cut:

Projected keeps and cuts, by position:�