Stillers-Dolphs Postgame Comments (and tailgate info for Friday, Aug. 26th)

 

Some brief comments from the Saturday night slopfest at soggy Heinz Field.� (For a thorough analysis of the first 2 games' worth of preseason progress, be sure to read Steel Phantom's superb article.)�

 

Defense:� The defense looked ok, but they won't always have the luxury of facing the likes of Frerotte and Feelall.�

 

- Farrior and Hampton had a nice FF of McMichael.� Good hustle by Big Casey.

 

- Farrior also forced the fumble that Harrison scooped up and ran in for the TD.� James F. is already in midseason form.

 

- Ike Taylor had good coverage on Miami's 1st play, which was a deep route down the sideline.� He also had a good tackle of Ricky W. after a short dumpoff.� Ike was far too soft on a curl in the 3Q, and I wonder if the Stillers are going to force him -- or whomever gets the nod -- to play the softee 12-yard cushion.�

 

- Clark Haggans had a nice back-to-back sequence in the 1Q.� First, he sturdily took on the FB and then make the stop of a line plunge, something his predecessor wouldn't have done in 100 years.� On the next play, he destroyed McMichael, shoving him into his ass, and then sacked the QB.�

 

- Troy Pola took a poor, boneheaded angle on the deep 3rd down post to Welker that was completed for big yardage, all too similar to the AFC Title game.�

 

- Rian Wallace awoke and had a nice FF after a dumpoff to the RB.� This was a punishing hit that could, maybe, allow him to make the team.�

 

- Harrison fought valiantly, but did little in terms of heat at the ROLB spot.� Sure, he had 1 play where he harassed the QB into a hurried pass, but this was an overload blitz in which the LT barely tapped Harrison and then chose to block the blitzing, outside DB, allowing Harrison to rush in virtually untouched.� Harrison can play the run as well as any OLB on the roster, but if the Stillers want some pass pressure from the OLB spot, Harrison doesn't seem to be the man to be able to do it.

 

- I'll say again -- Zo Jackson's best spot right now is to be a situational pass rusher, where he can simply pin his ears back and rush the QB.� This is what he did at FSU and this is his forte', period.� He will not ever be the polished OLB that Cowhard envisions, but there is a chance he could be a 1-dimensional pass rusher, because unlike Harrison, Jackson's frame length is ideal for rushing the QB and batting passes, stripping the QB, etc.� ��

 

Offense:� The offense had some catching up to do, although the wet field made it a challenge.�

 

- Ben Roth again looked mediocre.� He threw a hideous INT on a simple out pass to Tuman that was far too high...a simple throw that was tossed off his back foot.� He also had a couple of passes that sailed high, including a lofty pass to El that was nearly INT'd in the 2Q.� Ben's more of a gamer and a 2nd half QB, and I suppose we should bank on that and not fret about preseason form�but right now the guy ain't lighting the world on fire.�

 

- Ward played sparingly and caught a 3-yard pass on 3rd & 4, which was a foolish route (and a low throw by Ben).�� Good to see Hines back, though.

 

- The Stillers had the ball, 1st and goal at the 9, and came away with nothing.� Cedrick Wilson, who's been fawned over by the media as though he's the next Cliff Branch, had a sure TD pass clang off his hands while being wide open in the EZ.� The O-line allowed an avalanche of pressure on this series, including Smith getting beaten to the inside.�

 

- Wilson and El were reaching for balls that were a wee bit high (but catchable), and were smothered on several inc. passes.� Not good.�

 

- Parker showed his burst and speed on a couple long runs and a nice RAC.� On an offense that has little speed at RB and marginal speed at WR, this guy has got to make the team and get some PT.�

 

- Heath Miller, the TE and #1 draft pick that everyone has raved and ooohed about, finished the game with 0 catches for 0 yards.� He now has 1 grab for 5 yards in 2 games.

 

- Simmons was bowled back in pass pro on a 2Q play.� I remain a lil' concerned about his strength, agility, and leverage.�

 

- Haynes had his problems.� He fumbled the ball once, and even on his TD plunge, looked sluggish.� Right now, he should lavish Duce Staley with booze and flowers, because only Staley's injury will allow Haynes to make this team.�

 

ST:

 

- Colclough fumbled a punt, trying to grab the ball while it was bouncing, and with 3 Fins nearly atop him.� A lesson learned, hopefully.

 

- McFadden forced a fumble, of sorts, in punt coverage, by shoving the blocker into Welker.� Frankly, I don't know why more teams, especially when they are behind in the 2nd half, don't intentionally boot a high pooch punt and then order their coverage team to shove blockers either into the ball or into the return man.�

 

- Logan was slow and feeble on Welker's long punt return, getting shrugged off like a bug, but he had a nice FF in punt coverage later in the game.

 

- Roper had a nice stick on KO coverage.�

 

- Reed's KOs went to the 7, GL, and 7.�� Not bad.� He did hook a chippie FG; hopefully only an aberration.�

 

 

In all, much more work to be done.� The Dolphs are a weak team that doesn't present a lot of challenge.� The same can be said for the Deadskins this Fri. night, but at least it's a road game, and given that it's the 3rd preseason game, this will be the last significant chunk of work for the 1st team.�

 

Last note:� Stillers.com will host its first tailgate of the season. �Many familiar with this site know that StillDiesel typically travels to four or five games a years and throws together a tailgate. The details:

Who: Stillers.Com fans
What: A tailgate, with Stillers.Com providing beer, teamed up with a Steelers fan club out of Baltimore, MD.
When: Friday, August 26th 2005 around 5:30-6:00 PM
Where: FEDEX Field, Washington DC. Lot B3. �Look for the Stillers.Com banner and a big flag pole with an American Flag and Steelers Flag.� Use this link to review the map of the parking lots at Foreskin Field: �www.redskins.com/fedexfield/parking.jsp

Why: To meet some faithful Stiller fans and to extend our thanks for supporting us by providing the brews for free. Steel Trivia, Diesel and myself will be there and look forward to meeting everyone that can stop by.

 

 

�(Still Mill and Stillers.com -- the only nationally read coverage on the Pittsburgh Stillers that has accurately predicted the how's and the why's of the past 4 Stiller playoff losses�.)