Some Things I Think I Think�

����������� Musings from the mind like a steel trap!

-          Here�s a problem with the run defense that has eluded just about everyone�Casey Hampton.� The man has simply not been as effective as he was last season.� Was it the trips to the Ponderosa All-You-Can-Eat food bar???� Don�t know, but his effectiveness has diminished.� I cannot absolve Tim Lewis of this digression, either.� I never remember seeing the nose tackle �stunt� as much as Casey is this year.� And his stunting is not helping things � unless you�re the opposing team.� Too often I look at tape and see the center GLADLY oblige Hampton to whatever side he wishes to stunt to, opening a hole big enough to fit a Bus through�or a guard pull around to get a free shot at our linebackers. �The nose tackle must take the center straight-up, and knock him straight back.� Clog.� Impede.� Hampton is not doing this.� Contrast to last night, when I watched Gilbert Brown continually maul Ollie Kreutz, supposedly one of the best in the business.� Brown kept driving and clogging the middle.� There was nothing for A-Train to do.� Hampton needs to do the same.� Hey, Lewis, stop this stunting nonsense � it doesn�t work.� You don�t HAVE Earl Holmes and Levon Kirkland behind Hampton.� Play him straight up.

-          What�s this bullshiit about �half the line didn�t move when Tommy got sacked and fumbled� nonsense?????� I watched that tape a number of times, and the only guy who DIDN�T move was Marvel Smith.� Yunz guys listen to Brent Jones in his drunken stupor WAYYY too much.

-          I have been pleased and impressed with Clark Haggans, in the minimal playing time he has been given.� It�s time he be given more.

-          I am still impressed with Larry Foote, despite his penchant for getting caught out of position.� He�s a gamer, and will learn.� AND � he�s a rookie.� DAMN.� Give the guy a break.� To his left is a fraudulent pro bowler who has made all the impact of a Q-tip hitting a battleship.�

-          I also like Farrior.� I think he is a gamer, too.� I think he will get better and better as the season goes, and my the end, will be our most consistent linebacker.� Having Bell next to him will help as well.

-          You know, Field Goal Bill has always been a �players coach�.� Unfortunately, you had better be the RIGHT player�ask Jim Miller of the Chicago Bears�Apparently, Brent Alexander IS the �right� player, because he does nothing ON THE FIELD that warrants his continued presence ON THE FIELD.� (unless cleaning the litter and debris after the game counts.)� I�m sorry, but on a team with a defense that is at the moment devoid of any playmaker besides Joey Porter, we cannot afford the luxury of a slow, non-hitting dullard like Brent Alexander.� There are too many safeties in this league who �set the tome� for their defenses to have ours saddled with one who brings nothing more than the ability to �call the defense��

-          What exactly does Jason Gildong do as the �defensive captain�?????� It gives me a headache trying to figure out�

-          I was not impressed in the least by Verron Haynes.� Not only did he look putrid going out for passes, but his blocking in protection was no more than Amos�s.� Now THAT�S bad.� I hope the Stillers see something else, because I don�t see it.

-          I am also down on Chris Hope.� I thought this was an excellent choice at the time of the draft.� I saw this guy on special teams, and thought I was seeing a miniature version of Jason Gildong�Hope has �mastered� the Flop and Flail.� Not a good sign.� (Can�t beat out Flowers or Alexander is another.)

-          It still frustrates the bejeeesus out of me that Mularkey has such great success spreading the field and running Zero wide, yet always reverts back to that stale �tight� formation!!� 3^rd and short?� Gotta go tight.� WHY?� Get the defenders AWAY from where you are gonna run the ball, Mike!!!� Let our guys go one-on-one --- NOT one-on-two!?!?!

-          Can someone PLEASE tell Trap WHY Jerame 2-Man is on our roster???� Is he a �plant� by the Cleveland Browns?� He BLOWS.� He adds NO VALUE.� BAD THINGS HAPPEN when this putz is on the field.� Dropped passes, missed blocks, holding penalties � you name it, Jerame 2_man is glad to oblige.� The man can�t POSSIBLY be playing for US!?!?!

-          Mularkey did a markedly better job with the playcalling this past Sunday.� That said, does anyone else notice how the man goes to the well one too many times???� I guess every third down, we are destined for a Zero screen pass now.� Last year, it was the QB draw, or the shovel pass.�� Always on 3^rd down!� Hey Mike:� Guess what?� You are allowed to run something ELSE on 3^rd down � OK?

-          I am also disturbed by the fact that we STILL fail to throw the ball downfield�AT ALL.� Throw the damn thing down there twice a game just for the hell of it!!� Just so they know that you WILL!!� SO WHAT if you throw a 50-yard INT???� It�s a PUNT.

-          Marvel Smith simply is NOT PROGRESSING.� This is very disappointing.� The man is a 2^nd-round pick, and he is basicall the same as he was when we drafted him.� WHAT HAPPENED???

-          Ripley�s Believe It Or Not is STILL placing digital cameras in strategic places in all the stadiums the Stillers play in this season, in hopes of getting a still shot of Plaxico Burress actually catching a ball with his hands�good luck.� They might want to try the woods in the pacific northwest � they might find Bigfoot sooner�

-          Am I the only one who had the manners to send out my THANK YOU NOTE to Bill Cowherd for his Country Club Camp at Latrobe this year?� Thanks, Bill.� Really meant a lot to those millionaires.�