Behind Enemy Lines: Five Questions For a Steelers Blogger
Thanks to the Mondesi’s House for participating this week, we have some thoughts on the Jets-Steelers matchup from someone who follows all things Pittsburgh. If you haven’t checked it out, Mondesi’s House is an excellent and witty look on Pittsburgh sports, and they were kind enough to take the time to answer our questions.
You can read my answers to his questions here.
1) With a new head coach in the fold for the Steelers, can you explain some of the differences between how Tomlin and Cowher run/ran the team?
MH: It’s hard to knock Mr. Bill, who accomplished more than 99% of the men who will ever coach an NFL team; but he had clearly lost their interest in 2006. They had become a lazy, undisciplined group, uncharacteristically taking 15-yard penalties as if they were the east coast version of the Oakland Raiders at times. Taunting, late hits…these were never the hallmarks of a Steeler team. But they were certainly present last season. From a fan’s point of view, they were a frustrating group to watch.
Mike Tomlin came in and rattled some cages. He preaches accountability, with his daily segments of “The News”, a virtual calling-out of a mental screwup in front of the entire team. He did not back down from veterans like the recently disgruntled Alan Faneca or a dominant presence in the locker room such as Hines Ward. He gave them respect and earned theirs. And when they started winning, it snowballed from there.
2) How is this offense different from the one that one the SuperBowl two years ago?
MH: They’ve allowed Ben Roethlisberger to truly flourish. There had been a growing perception among media members and fans alike that Ben was merely a Rex Grossman/Trent Dilfer-esque, “game managing” caretaker of the offense. But this season has quieted much of that talk. Caretakers’ main job is to “not lose” the game; the difference is that Roethlisberger WINS games, just as he did on Sunday against the Browns.
It was never that Roethlisberger couldn’t make the throws; he just wasn’t asked to make as many of them. Now he is being asked to do more, and he has responded with 22 touchdown passes and a passer rating of 110 after just nine games.
What will really floor you Jet fans who don’t get to see Ben on a regular basis is his escapability. He has an uncanny knack of feeling a blitz, extending a play by arm or on foot, and making something out of nothing. There’s really no other quarterback like him in the NFL. His combination of size, strength, speed, and knowledge of the game is in a rare class. We’ve debated it at length on my site, so if any of you care to disagree, I’d be happy to share some numbers with you.
All in all, it’s a more dynamic attack in 2007. They feature the league’s #2-rated QB and a running back (Willie Parker) who is 2nd in the league in rushing and always capable of a big play. They rank 2nd in the league in net points at +127, behind only a team that I think both of us hate. Contrary to popular belief, they are not simply a “rushing team”, but more of a balanced attack, and certainly not an offense to take lightly.
3) The Defense underwent some changes … losing Joey Porter, talks of converting to a 4-3 … what’s been the secret to the revitalized Steeler defense this year?
MH: The secret has been the surprisingly smooth transition from Cowher to Tomlin for coordinator . People really didn’t know which way the D was going to go; in fact, this week a few Steelers (including Larry Foote and former Jet James Farrior) said that they feared for their jobs in training camp if the Steelers would implement a 4-3. Lebeau’s steadying hand has provided continuity at a critical time for the franchise.
To be honest, the loss of Porter was not as tough a blow as you would imagine. The Steelers would rather bail out on a guy a year too soon than be stuck with a fat, long-term contract. It’s been played out time and time again, especially with linebackers (Greg Lloyd, Levon Kirkland, Kevin Greene, Jason Gildon, etc.), and it’s the strategy they took with Porter.
By now you’ve probably heard about James Harrison, who’s stepped into the lineup and played, as Bill Cowher would say, “at a very high level”. The Steelers seem to have a knack for developing playmaking linebackers. And with a defense ranked 1st overall, 1st against the pass, 1st against the rush, and 1st in points allowed, it looks like they’re pushing all the right buttons this season.
4) Tell us about one player that most Jets fan probably don’t know about, but should.
MH:
Daniel Sepulveda, the punter. Why the punter? Because no one ever knows anything about punters. But in all seriousness, this guy’s pretty good. So good that the Steelers spent a 4th round pick on him in this year’s draft.
He’s 2nd in the NFL in % of punts inside the 20, with a very solid 44.7% – an impressive number, considering the low man in the NFL checks in at 14% . And he’s a tough guy, too. I suggest you check out this video and subsequently fear for the life of Leon Washington.
5) Prediction Time: What’s the final score and how many sacks do you think the Steelers will have?
MH: I’m really not one to prognosticate, but since you’re asking, I’ll say 34-10 Steelers. I’m going to say six sacks for Dick Lebeau’s defense.
2 Responses to Behind Enemy Lines: Five Questions For a Steelers Blogger
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Blake McCoy says:
Enjoyed the cross talk between you and Mondesi. Congrats on the win, your team deserved it. May one of us beat the s**t out of the Patriots and pretty boy Brady.
Sepulveda hits harder than anyone on our d-line.
Steelers 31, Jets 13.