Steel City Sports

Pitt Climbs To #7 in Rankings

2007-01-29T13:31:00.000-08:00

After losing an overtime thriller to Marquette on January 21st, the Pittsburgh Panthers heartily defeated Cincinnati and St. Johns.

The fruits of their labor? Advancing two more spots in the rankings from 9th to 7th.

The Panthers (19-3 overall, 7-1 Big East) face the Villanova Wildcats (14-6 overall, 3-4 Big East tonight at 7:00pm on ESPN's "Big Monday". They face Chris Sumpter and a Nova' team that is reeling off of close lose to Notre Dame. The last time these two conference teams played each other, it was a Pitt victory over Nova' in the Big East Tournament (I resisted saying it was an eye-popping matching - sorry, Allen Ray). My pick is for a similar finish, and the Pitt Panthers get a big win on national TV.

Tomlin Finalizes Coaching Staff

2007-01-29T12:34:00.000-08:00

Here's the finalized coaching list for the new Steelers regime under Mike Tomlin:

Offensive Coordinator : Bruce Arians
Defensive Coordinator : Dick Lebeau
Special Teams Coordinator : Bob Ligashesky*
Offensive Assistant : Matt Raich
Defensive Assistant : Lou Spanos
Defensive Backs Coach : Ray Horton*
Quarterbacks Coach : Ken Anderson*
Wide Receivers Coach : Randy Fichtner*
Tight Ends Coach : James Daniel
Running Backs Coach : Kirby Wilson*
Offensive Line Coach : Larry Zierlein*
Assistant Special Teams Coach : Amos Jones
Defensive Line : John Mitchell
Linebackers : Keith Butler

* - New to the Organization in 2007

Steelers Playoff Picture Update & Week 16 Preview

2006-12-22T21:18:00.000-08:00

(Yes, in case anyone missed it, SCS is back after another hiatus. Obviously since I've been gone, There's been a vast number of urgent events in Burgh' sports. Rather than try to retrace my footsteps, the plan is simply to carry on as if I was here all along. Hopefully all of my former readers have stuck around.)

After the demolishing of the Carolina Panthers last week,extending the Steelers win streak to 3 in a row and winning their last 4 out of 5, the Steelers have once again entered the wild card race in the AFC. With an overall record of 7-7, the Steelers are currently sixth in the wild card race behind the Broncos,Bengals,Jaguars,Jets,and Bills in that order. Do the Steelers have any hope? The answer (as it has been for weeks) is a resounding maybe. The possiblity is certainly alive with many of the teams ahead of the defending champs facing tough games on their remaining schedules. The first and foremost aspect necessary for the Steelers to once again grab the sixth seed and advance to the postseason is to win out,defeating the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals. If the Steelers lose either game, they will be officially eliminated from playoff contention. Much like last year, our back is to the wall, albeit more severe than in the 2005 season. Without doing my best John Clayton impression any further, I'll break it down simply by listing this week's "Teams to root for":

1. Steelers (obviously a win is necessary or else this is all obsolete)
2. Broncos (Cincinnati's division record and conference record would be the same as ours and put us in a tie-breaker situation with them the following week)
3. Dolphins (The Jets cinderella story is falling back to earth. Nontheless, they still posess a better conference record and a better overall record. Losing to Miami on monday night would throw a cog into the wheels of their playoff run and help Pittsburgh in spades)
4. Titans (In terms of the overall Wild-Card race, the Bills are slightly ahead, while the Titans are slightly behind. Pittsburgh winning and Buffalo losing to Vince Young and co. would put the Steelers marginally ahead of both)
5. Raiders (Yes,I know. The Raiders? Espicially against LJ, the NFL's worst team don't have a snowballs chance in watch-yo-mouth of tromping KC's finest. Nontheless, a loss would officially eliminate Kansas City from Postseason contention. The less opponents we have in this, the better, folks. Oh yeah,and before you totally scoff at the chance of the Black and Silver pulling off a victory here,don't forget; they beat us.)

While we're on the subject...

Let's break down this Sunday's Christmas Eve showdown in the 'Burgh.

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) Vs. Baltimore Ravens (11-3) - Heinz Field -Pittsburgh,PA

I don't think I have to remind anyone of what happened last time our beloved Steelers went face to face against the Ravens in their house. The offensive line suffered a complete breakdown. The running game was abysmal. Big Ben was sacked nine times. Every Receiver not named Hines collapsed. The pass defense and special teams both looked like a high school team. The end result against one of the finest teams in the league? a 27-0 embarassment that arguably put any shot of postseason hopes in jeopardy. For the Ravens, they're playing for a chance to have a week off in the playoffs after clinching the AFC North last week. For the Steelers? The stakes are much higher. Our playoffs start now. Many cite our situation similar to last year's. Last year we did not have to play the Ravens and Bengals,two perennial playoff teams and division rivals. Will this time around be any different? Are we going to bounce back and receive an early christmas present or have our offseason vacation started early? Let's break it down from top to bottom.

Quarterback - As of right now, Steve McNair, who torched our secondary last time around, is listed as questionable. Kyle Boller replaced him late in last week's game against the Browns and although he did not look McNair-esque, he did a very good job of managing the game and ensuring a Ravens victory. Boller has never done a very good job against the Steelers and with Troy Polamalu returning from injury this week to start, this time shouldn't be different. On the Burgh side of the ball, Ben Roethilsberger seems to be officially back on the horse and is looking much like he did the second half of last year, posting similar statistics. If McNair toughs it out and starts, the birds get the advantage here. Until that becomes a fact and not speculation, I give the nod to our boy here.
Advantage - Steelers

Runningbacks - Willie Parker's story couldn't be any finer. After his rags-to-riches season last year, he faced constant speculation of whether he could handle the lack of a power back and the loss of Jerome Bettis. He has responded by making the Pro Bowl and posting another 1,000+ season. Jamal Lewis has worked well behind a very solid line and a solid system with Brian Billick taking over the reins. If Boller starts, he will have more pressure on him to run the ball more often and score on a team that hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown since...the last time he faced our Defense. Still, Fast Willie is going up against one of the top 3 defenses in football. He will have to have a 100 yard game and run well,keeping the Steelers out of the 3rd down territory as much as possible or else this game will fall to the wayside quickly. Establishing the run game early and often will certainly be the key for offensive success for either team. On paper, it looks like a wash. Rookie Willie Colon making his first start at Right-Tackle against a solid right side becomes the tie-breaker.
Advantage - Ravens

Wide-Receivers and Tight-Ends - This is the one aspect that Pittsburgh can really take off with in this game. Santonio Holmes finally seems to be coming into his own. Hines Ward is back to full health. Cedrick Wilson, while not 100%, is good enough to contribute in many aspects of the passing game (including trick plays, which we saw last week). Outside of Derrick Mason, Baltimore's passing game has been very inconsistent. With Troy Polamalu returning, Ike Taylor doing well again at Nickel,and Bryant McFadden playing well, the Steelers can exploit the Ravens over the middle if they can find a way to confuse Ed Reed - A task much easier said than done. The Tight End situation goes to the Burgh here, with Heath Miller playing well and Todd Heap listed as questionable.
Advantage - Steelers

Offensive Line - Normally,this would be a tough call, with both these teams having subperb lines that work great in their system. From the left over, It's all a wash. Although I think he has talent and will probably find himself a starter in this line-up someday, I worry about rookie Willie Colon's first start against stud defensive players the likes of Ray Lewis,Adalius Thomas,and Terrell Suggs.
Advantage - Ravens

Defensive Line - Two teams,playing physical 3-4 line defenses. I will hand it to Baltimore, they have stepped up against inside running games with Cleveland and Cincinnati this season. However, much of their defensive numbers come from their linebackers and have shown weakness against outside running and screens and draws, all of which they will encounter in full force sunday. For the Black and Gold, Casey Hampton and Aaron Smith have played in Hawaii in the Pro Bowl in the past for a reason, and Brett Kiesel has become of the NFL's most underrated defensive ends
Advantage - Steelers

Linebackers - This is where it really gets interesting. Like the running game on the offensive side of the ball, this is a tough call and is one of the most urgent keys to victory. One can make a valid argument that these two squads are two of the NFL's finest. Nearly each member of both these squads have made the pro bowl and have done a great job stopping the run,espicially as of late. With the Steelers red-hot against stopping the inside passing game and limiting opponents to under 100 yard game averages,I can't go against the Burgh. On the other hand, I can't think of a few defensive players I'd rather not line up against than what Baltimore's bringing.
Advantage - Tie

Secondary - Troy Polamalu returns from his injury and will start. Bryant McFadden has been lights out as of late. So the Steelers get it right? Unfortunatley, I can never,ever go up against Chris McCalister,Ed Reed,and Samari Rolle. Safety play is a concern for both teams. I'd take my money on the sure pick here.
Advantage - Ravens

Special Teams - With both teams having great red-zone defenses,kicking game will be a big deal. Nobody can handle the crazy winds of Heinz Field like Jeff Reed. Matt Stover has gone 4 for 11 in the last 3 games in Pittsburgh. Both punters have had similar seasons. Gardocki has the better leg, Baltimore has a better coverage game.
Advantage - Steelers

Overall Prediction - This game will be a close one. If you're expecting glitz and glamour, look elsewhere. These are two of the NFL's finer defenses. Pittsburgh is playing for their season in the final home game of the year, with a bitter taste in their mouths from the last time they were stomped on by the Ravens. The Ravens are one of the most talented teams in football,and have as good of a shot of playing in February as anyone. Unfortunatley for them, Christmas Eve isn't the super bowl, and the stakes just aren't quite as high. Our boys take a close one and keep the playoff hopes alive
Steelers 23,Ravens 17

The Return of Steel City Sports

2006-09-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

Well, after a lengthy abscence, I'm back. Was it the Pitt Panthers coming out of the gate looking like a team to contend in the Big East again? Is it the return of the defending champs under the spotlight around the globe tonight? Did the Pirates recent smackdown of the Cubs actually motivate me to think about baseball? Okay,maybe that one's stretching it a bit, but let's face it. While all of these things are true, they're not what brought me back out of the woodwork. Fellow Pittsburgh fans, take a look around you. Listen to the critics in the media on television, magazines, newspapers, the internet. Don't just hear it. Listen to it. What you hear is a lack of respect. I guess on the diamond,we deserve it. We probably do on the ice too. But in the confines of Heinz field, it's the most unncessary thing we could receive. Ben Roethilsberger has a 24-7 record as a starting QB in the NFL over his first two seasons,including being the youngest quarterback to ever win a super bowl, and still is denied to be mentoined in the same breath as Carson Palmer or Tom Brady. The Steelers have the best coaching staff in football and retained 18 of 22 starters on a championship team, but I still have yet to hear anyone give a Steelers repeat the light of day. The team has flaws. I'll be the first to admit it. I expect to see many of those exposed by a very talented,hungry Miami team tonight. But no matter what the critics say or believe, and no matter how high the naysaying stacks up, there is one thing that no one except Steeler Nation will ever know : don't mess with a Steelers team with it's back up against the wall. Just ask any team that played us in the month of January. Those same naysayers said we couldn't do it then,no matter what. Tonight begins the moment that we shut them up once again. Forget the thumb, I'm ready to start working on the other hand.

Jerome Bettis - "Bill Cowher Will Retire After This Season"

2006-08-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

During the halftime show of NBC's broadcast of the Redskins/Bengals preseason game, Jerome Bettis stated that he has spoken with Coach Cowher about his current future standing with the team.

He said that Bill Cowher fully intends on walking away from the game of football after this upcoming season.

If Coach Cowher has truly made up his mind that this is his last year,than he owes it to the Rooney family and all of us in Steeler Nation to let us know.

Up to this point,Coach Cowher has essentially dodged the question, citing that he plans on "taking it one year at a time".

Black and Gold....and Neon Green?

2006-08-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

(Photo Credit - Peter Diana, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

In order to protect himself in team scrimmages in training camp, Steelers QB Ben Roethilsberger has been wearing a neon green covering over his helmet to stand out more. It's a great move for Ben,who hasn't exactly practiced helmet safety throughout his lifetime.

It's still up in the air whether or not Ben will play in the preseason opener against the Cardinals this weekend at Arizona.

The game will be at 4:00 ET on local CBS affiliate KDKA-CBS and FSN Pittsburgh.

After the game,expect a full wrapup on here.

Post Trade Deadline MLB Predictions

2006-08-03T21:36:00.000-07:00

NL East
New York Mets
Atlanta Braves
Florida Marlins
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals

NL Central
St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati Reds***
Houston Astros
Milwaukee Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates
Chicago Cubs

NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Diego Padres
Arizona Diamondbacks
Colorado Rockies
San Francisco Giants

AL East
New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles
Tampa Bay Devil Rays

AL Central
Detroit Tigers
Chicago White Sox**
Minnesota Twins
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Royals

AL West
Los Angeles Angels
Oakland A's
Texas Rangers
Seattle Mariners

** - Wild Card Teams

World Series - New York Yankees over New York Mets

NL Cy Young - Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs
AL Cy Young - Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins
NL Rookie of the Year - Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals
AL Rookie of the Year - Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins
NL MVP - Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
AL MVP - David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

Chacon To Get First Career Start With Pirates Today

2006-08-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

Shawn Chacon, acquired from the New York Yankees on monday for Craig Wilson, will get his first start as a Pirate today against Atlanta vs. Tim Hudson.

The Pirates, who have lost the last 2 games of the series against Atlanta, will be playing to avoid the sweep.

Also,speaking of players acquired and dealt at the deadline...

Xavier Nady started his first game as a Pirate last night against the Braves at first base. He went 0-3 with a walk. The Pirates lost 2-3.

Former bucco Kip Wells also made his first start as a Texas Ranger last night. He pitched five strong innings allowing 1 ER on 7 hits. He struck out two batters and went on to be award with the win.

The Pirates are currently 40-68 and in last place in the NL central. They are five games back of the Chicago Cubs,who are in 5th.

Steelers Training Camp Injury Report and Update

2006-08-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

Wideout Cedrick Wilson did not take part in morning practice today,because of pains in his achilles' tendon. He did take part in individual drills. He then sat at the rest of the team practice. Coach Cowher has said that he's going to be "very cautious" with the injury. The biggest problem surrounding this injury is that Wilson is currently the team's starting split end,opposite Hines Ward. With Santonio Holmes's hamstring and now Wilson's injry, the Steelers will need to make sure that their receiving corp is intact and healthy very soon.

TE Jerame Tuman and OL Chukky Okobi also returned to camp today after marginal injuries.

In other Training Camp updates, it appears that Troy Polamalu hasn't lost his edge in the offseason. In goal line drills, he dominated the line of scrimmage,delivering "flawless tackling" and laying out HB Verron Haynes during a goal line scrimmage.

And speaking of safeties, both Ryan Clark and Tyrone Carter engaged in extensive safety training yesterday and today to ensure that Troy Polamalu is as dominant in the Steelers' defensive system as he was last season.

And the rumors about a Bill Cowher retirement following the 2007 season just keep flooding in. Today, Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt was talked to about possibly being the heir to the Cowher throne if he does choose to retire. Ken Whisenhunt also adamently stated that he would rather be in Pittsburgh as OC than a head coach in Oakland, a job he turned down in early April.

Say it ain't so Bill,Say it ain't so.

Pitt Basketball To Raise Recruiting In D.C.

2006-08-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

New director of basketball operations,David Cox,hails from the D.C. area and is reportedly making big waves in recruiting for Pitt in the D.C. area.

The 2007 high school class in D.C./Baltimore is certainly one of the strongest in the country and we'll certainly be welcoming some great additions from it.

PF Michael Beasley,the 4th ranked recruit in the entire country,and Chris Wright are both recruits out of the D.C. area whom are near-direct results of Cox's D.C. connections.

Beasley has expressed desire in committing to Pitt if his visit to Kansas State doesn't live up to expectations.

Anyone else ready for some Pitt football?

2006-07-31T18:23:00.000-07:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mwkQ_i6eetE&search=palko

Just thought I'd take a nice stroll down memory lane to see one of my favorite plays of Tyler Palko's career.

Only 32 days until Pitt Football opening day.

2006 Big East preview coming soon...

Kip Wells and Craig Wilson traded at the last minute

2006-07-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

At the last second,two more players,Kip Wells and Craig Wilson,were traded to Texas and New York respectively.

Kip Wells (1-5, 6.69 ERA) ,29, was sent to the Texas Rangers for Minor-league reliever Jesse Chavez, 22, (2-5, 4.43 ERA, 4 Saves).

Craig Wilson (.267, 13 HR's, 41 RBI's),who had often been associated with trade rumors throughout the season, was traded to the New York Yankees for SP Shawn Chacon (5-3, 7.00 ERA in 17 games).

Wells and Wilson,combined with the previous trades today combined for 5 total players on the Pirates traded today.

Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez traded to the New York Mets for Xavier Nady

2006-07-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

Just moments after the blog was posted,the deal went down.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded SP Oliver Perez and RP Roberto Hernandez back to the Mets for corner outfielder Xavier Nady.

Hernandez, who was a Met last season,is reunited in his former hometown and his former team. He posted a stat line of 43 IP,with 33 K's,a 1.63 WHIP,and a 2.93 ERA. He also posted an 0-3 record,getting 2 saves and 9 holds over the season.

Oliver Perez,who has struggled since 2004 to return to the form that made him the talented young ace that once bolstered the Pirates' starting rotation. In the 2006 season before getting demoted to AAA ball,he posted a record of 2-10 over 76 IP with a stat line of 61 K's and a 6.63 ERA.

The main reasons for the Mets to make the trade was both the desire to add a young arm to the back end of a starting rotation looking for help,and also to help out in the bullpen following an unfortunate car accident leaving reliever Duaner Sanchez with a seperated shoulder that will probably end his 2006 season.

From the receiver standpoint, Xavier Nady has been batting .264 with 14 HR's and 40 RBI's. He is listed as one of the Mets' top up and coming players at the position and when playing has shown a great deal of pontential of being an adequate corner outfielder defensively,and a great power bat to compliment star Jason Bay,and breakout player Freddy Sanchez in the future.

The Kip Wells to Boston deal has still not shown any signs of progress,but ESPN.com is reporting that the deal will likely be done before the deadline,which is only 24 minutes away.

Even More Trade Talks Involving Pirates Pitchers

2006-07-31T12:14:00.000-07:00

Reports are now coming out of New York that the Pirates,in addition to the Red Sox,are talking to the New York Mets for a deal that would send the erractic Oliver Perez along the former Met Roberto Hernandez to the Big Apple.

Like the Kip Wells deal,terms of the deal have not been disclosed,but if and when it happens,I'll keep you posted ASAP.

Trade Talks Involving the Pirates Heat Up In The Final Hour

2006-07-31T12:08:00.000-07:00

Reports are flying out of Boston that the Pirates and Red Sox are "very close" to landing a deal that would send Pirates pitcher Kip Wells to Boston.

Terms of the players the Pirates would receive has not yet been disclosed. If and when the trade goes down, I'll be right back here with an update.

Trade Update Out Of Pittsburgh

2006-07-31T10:40:00.000-07:00

After weeks of speculation,the rumors of Sean Casey being traded came true.

He was traded this afternoon to the Detroit Tigers for minor league pitching prospect Brian Rogers.

Chris Shelton,Detroit's first baseman all season in 2006 so far,was demoted to AAA Toledo.

How will this impact the buccos for the rest of the season?

Defensively,the position will be hindered. Sean Casey has not given up a single error all season and has a .995 fielding percentage at first-base over his career.

In terms of pitching,Brian Roberts,whom won't make an immidiate impact on the team,has quite a bit of upside,going 3-2 with a 2.39 ERA in 37 appearances in AA Erie this season.

It is expected that the trade was made to make room for AAA first-base prospect Brad Eldred,who is expected to be the Bucs' first baseman next season.

Jose Hernandez,Joe Randa,and Craig Wilson,provided he isn't traded,will cover first for the remainder of the 2006 season.

Casey,a hometown player from the Pittsburgh area,will join former pirates manager Jim Leyland,and First Base coach and former Pirates standout outfield,Andy Van Slyke in Detroit. I'll be rooting for Casey and co. to hold onto their major league best record and rise above the Yankees,Red Sox,and other American League teams to represent the AL in the World Series this season.

PIttsburgh Steelers - Training Camp Preview 2006

2006-07-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

All super bowl teams struggle with the upcoming offseason. The expectations to continue to meet greatness and repeat,players and coaches coming and going with free agency and contract expirations,and new players coming in through free agency and the draft all make for a diffucult process.

Since winning the championship,the Pittsburgh Steelers have faced all of that and more.

As a matter of fact,it's hard to tell whether any team in recent history has had to endure what the hometown champs have endured. Despite winning a championship and have 9 starters returning on defense, the Steelers enter training camp will some big questions that will need immidiate and resounding answers if the Steelers are to repeat.

1. Will all of the massive off-season drama throughout the organization hold the Steelers back from forming their signature chemistry?
- To say the Steelers have had a drama filled and troubled offseason is possibly the biggest understatement anyone could make. Ben Roethlisberger's brush with death is just the most pronounced. Joey Porter causing turmoil over his contract,Cowher flirting with retirement after his contract is up after the 2007 season,Chris Hope and Antwaan Randle El bolting the team for the Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins,respectively. All following the retirement of future Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis,who backed the goal line and red zone punch that no other back in the modern era of Steelers football has been able to reproduce. And if that weren't enough,first round draft pick Santonio Holmes's off the field arrests and turmoil has left Steelers fans,coaches,and players baffled.

2. How drastic will Jerome Bettis's retirement hurt the Steelers,both on and off the field?
- On the field,despite his notorious battering ram style of play,the Steelers still pack a punch in short yardage situations with good inside runners such as Duce Staley and Verron Haynes. Rookie Cedric Humes will see touches should those two struggle or succumb to injury. Off the field is mostly where the Steelers will notice Bettis's prescence. His locker room and sideline leadership is simply irreplaceable. Many Steelers cite his locker room attitude as their sole motivator to get going on must-win sundays. If the Steelers are to return to championship form, they must learn how to bond and win without Bettis,who,for the first time in over a decade,will not be in Steelers training camp.

3. Will the free agency losses of key players keep the Steelers from returning to greatness?
- Antwaan Randle El left for D.C. to play for Joe Gibbs. Kimo Von Oelhoffen scampered to New York to play for the Jets. Chris Hope left for the Tennessee Titans. All of these players were integral parts during the Steelers' miracle run through the post-season. Randle El's loss will be felt in various ways,for better and for worse. Randle El became somewhat of a post-slash (forgive me for bringing him up) style of player,and was used widely in gadget plays. Ken Whisenhunt still loves Gadget plays and will continue to use them to the fullest. And if you're worrying about the famous receiver reverse pass? Never forget that Hines Ward played QB during his college days at Georgia. As a receiver, the loss will be felt the least. If Santonio Holmes's game can live up to expectations,and Cedrick Wilson can have a standout season, the passing attack may even be better than last year. On special teams, Holmes,Quincy Morgan,Ike Taylor,and Cedric Wilson have all shown the ability to be effective returners during their football tenures. Kimo Von Oelhoffen was a great veteran player for years,but his time had simply come to move on. At the age of nearly 38,Von Oelhoffen had significantly slowed in each year of play. New replacement Brett Keisel was one of the team's best pash-rushers last season,and with a large wingspan and overall strong base, should be a solid replacement pending adequate adjustment with Joey Porter to solidify that side of the line. Chris Hope leaves the biggest question mark of all of the three major free agency losses. Despite not playing at an all-pro caliber level during the first half of the season,Hope played wonderfully in the second half,doing a great job covering slot receivers in one on one coverage and working with cornerback Ike Taylor to shut down receivers the likes of Chad Johnson,Marvin Harrison,and Rod Smith. His replacements are questionable ones. Mike Logan remains as strong safety Troy Polamalu's backup,so Ryan Clark will come in from the Washington Redskins to serve as a temporary replacement. The reason this is temporary is because second round draft pick Anthony Smith from Syracuse,an intelligent sure-fire tackler, should be his likely replacement as the season progresses. The main goal of the free safety in the Steelers' defense is to do whatever it takes to give Troy Polamalu room to roam and freelance like no other secondary player in football does. Neither are as capable of that as Hope was,but will time and training,Anthony Smith should emerge as a solid replacement for Chris Hope. The loss of Chris Hope also should increase the role of nickel packages and second year corner Bryant McFadden.

4. Can the running game, which allowed the Steelers to run teams out of the game, still be as potent?
- All eyes here are on returning starter Willie Parker,who rushed for 1202 yards last season,while averaging a very effective 4.7 yards a carry. Because of the retirement of Jerome Bettis,Parker will have to rush the ball more in different situations than he did in 2005. The main question surrounding Parker is if he can become the workhorse back needed to set up the play-action pass,and allow Verron Haynes and Duce Staley to play in situations where they can score. If he can averages yards a carry and break games open on the ground like last season in his new,bigger role, than it will go a long way to help the Steelers' chances of winning those tightly contested ballgames down the stretch,where field position is often the difference between a division winning win,or a playoff-missing loss.

5. Will Ben Roethlisberger's motorcyle accident harm the youngest QB to ever win the super bowl's chances to return to glory?
- Many have speculated that Ben's near-fatal motorcycle accident would drastically affect him as a professional athlete. But after a very hasty recovery,Ben reported at training camp looking brand new and feeling "100 percent". This could certainly go two ways. Ben could allow this harrowing event to create insecurity in his profession,and cause him to abandon the free spirited style of play that made him a champion, or focus even more now on what made him great to ascend from being one of the great QB's in the sport,to being one of the elite. Time will tell,but after running sprints full speed,and doing a great job throwing with his teammates,Ben's timetable for recovery appears to have become minute,if at all existing.

...and last but not least

6. Can the Steelers repeat?
- despite all of the hits the teams has taken,and all the mounting media critcism, the Steelers find themselves,barring major injury or catastrophe, to make the trip to Miami to try to keep the Lombardi Trophy in the 'Burgh. In terms of the division,the Steelers still stand as the team to beat in the AFC North. The Bengals retained most of their players in the offseason,but legal issues off the field,player suspensions,and Carson Palmer's question mark of a knee give the Steelers a leg up over the defending division champions. Baltimore should be the most improved team in the North,bringing in a proven veteran Quarterback in Steve McNair and drafting Haloti Ngata to help allow Ray Lewis to be,well,Ray Lewis. Ed Reed is returning from an injury and is reported to be 110% heading into the 2006 season. Along with Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton at receiver,Todd Heap at Tight End primed for a monster season,and the thunderous,but erratic running game of Jamal Lewis,and newly acquired back Mike Anderson, the Steelers should keep a close eye on everything that is Baltimore. The arch-rival Browns made significant strides in signing Willie McGinnist and Joe Juervicius,as well as having Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow returning from injury,but are still too much of a question mark to compete for the top spot in the division. Outside of the North, the Patriots and Dolphins are both fielding solid squads for the 2006 season. However, both those teams,like the Steelers,have their share of question marks amongst the exclamation points. In New England,coaching depatures and free agency turmoil should effect them in the win column,but will not keep them from contending. The Dolphins,aside from the Culpepper injury(who has been cleared to practice), should be one of the surprise "teams to watch" in 2006. In the south, the Colts still remain as the figurehead,with so many offensive questions in Jacksonville,and the Texans and Titans still in rebuilding (or if you're Houston,flat out building) years. The West is easily the most competitive division,with three of the four teams likely playoff contenders. With all of the competition,the Steelers will certainly not have the work cut out for them. But if the team can answer these questions with positive results and stay healthy,the team still remains the team to beat in the AFC.

- I'll be back with more training camp reports as the weekend progresses. Stay Tuned.

Santonio Holmes - The Antithesis of a Pittsburgh Steeler

2006-07-30T17:15:00.000-07:00

When Antwaan Randle-El left the Steelers to help bolster the Washington Redskin's offense and receive more money, the Steelers were left with a missing puzzle piece that built the Championship winning portrait of the 2005 season.

On draft day,the Steelers seemingly addressed that need. We traded up to draft Santonio Holmes, the top-ranked receiver in the 2006 draft and one of college's best offensive players.

Even before he's stepped on the field, he's already been the Steeler's biggest bust taken in the first round in years.

In the late spring of this year,following being drafted,Holmes has been arrested twice in Columbus,Ohio on counts of domestic-abuse and disorderly conduct.

Recently,Holmes's membership as a Steeler became official as he signed a five-year,$8.11 Million dollar deal,which included a $5.42 million dollar signing bonus.

For passionate Steeler fans across the globe's,we've been trying to swallow this all down,thinking that maybe we could forgive him for being such an off-the-field nuscience.

He voided all possible forgiveness Saturday.

During the offseason,in an attempt to form chemistry with his new offensive weapon, Quarterback Ben Roethilsberger called Santonio Holmes numerous times.

Holmes's reaction? - "I didn't get any calls from him"

Way to form chemistry,Santonio; call your star QB a liar.

After questionable behavior outside of football, Santonio Holmes certainly would step back and do what Floyd Landis did and let future actions (or in his case,verdict),speak for themselves. Or at least as optimistic,passionate Steelers fans,that's what we would hope.

Holmes's reaction? - "I don't think I have anything to prove to anybody. People know what I can do on the field and they know what kind of person I am off the field"

Well,we do know what you're capable of on the gridiron,but I'm not sure we do know who you are off the field.

Although we're starting to form a pretty educated guess.

In his first day in training camp,after all of these ridiculous statements, Holmes finally showed up to practice. Was he humble and respectful to the veterans,wanting to earn his place amongst the Steelers elite?

Holmes's reaction? - He left his uniform in the locker room and showed up on the practice field wearing a Buckeye-red shirt that simply said "Da Man" on the back.

Young,brash,talented and confident all are words associated with Santonio Holmes. Unfortunatley,so are Immature,defiant,and ignorant.

It takes a special kind of player to be a Steeler. Hard-working,level-headed,team oriented are all required traits.

I'm not comfortable seeing Holmes in the Black and Gold.
and I'm not yet comfortable calling him a proud member of our squad.

The sorrowful potential of the Penguins leaving town has just been raised a hair

2006-07-30T16:53:00.000-07:00

Sam Fingold, a real-estate broker from Hartford,Conn. has signed his letter of intent as of friday to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins from Mario Lemieux's ownership group.

After years of playing in one of the league's worst arena's and tons of ownership problems,this should be a breath of fresh air for Pens fans,right?

Wrong. Probably.

Fingold has stated that he will "likely" keep the team in the 'Burgh,providing that a replacement for Mellon Arena,aka The Igloo,is built.

He has also expressed "Great interest" in moving the team to Kansas City,a city which has been both salivating over the oppurtunity to harbor an NHL team,as well as showing the ability to build a new arena.

The potential for a new arena in the Burgh appears to be diminishing each and every day according to various sources in the Pittsburgh media.

Fingold outbid the Mark Cuban/Dan Marino ownership group,which expressed great desire in keeping the team in Pittsburgh,regardless of arena condition.

In any case,it seems that more than likely the purchase was a money issue,as Cuban/Marino simply could not afford to outbid him for the team in the long run and accept the contemporary financial burden that the owner of the team will likely receive.

Please,Sam Fingold,keep this team in Pittsburgh. The last thing we need is another broken-hearted fan.

I'd also like to pass along a link to an article written by Terry Frei,writer for ESPN,on the subject as well. This all might just be preaching to the choir,but it's something that needs to be said.

Anyway,heres the article : http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=frei_terry&id=2532043

A San Francisco Treat

2006-07-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

The potential of Barry Bonds last appearance in Pittsburgh,Three soldout games at PNC Park,all just days before the trade deadline. How did the Pittsburgh Pirates respond?

Sweeping the San Francisco Giants,handing them their 7th straight loss and showing Barry Bonds the door in a big way.

Friday Night's game was a total disaster for Bonds,who went 0-4,thanks to seven strong,shut-out innings thrown by Kip Wells,who only allowed five hits in seven innings pitched.

Saturday,Barry went 1-3 on a double in the early goings,but struck out in the two following at-bats. He was replaced in the 8th inning by Todd Linden. Another noteworthy moment of saturday night's game was AAA callup Tom Gorzelanny earning his first Major League win,allowing 6 hits and 2 Runs over 7 strong innings pitched. He also got a key base knock in the game,tieing the game in the 3rd inning with his first Major League RBI.

This Sunday,Barry Bonds did not play,possibly due to a minor ankle injury he sustained during his 3rd and final at-bat during saturday evening's game. The Pirates won in the bottom of the 10th inning, 2-1,winning their 5th straight.

The July monthly buccos roundup will be up this week.

Barry Bonds back in the Burgh for what might be his one last hurrah.

2006-07-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

Switching gears to baseball...

Tonight,the Pittsburgh Pirates opened a 3-game series over the weekend at PNC Park right at home in Pittsburgh.

It might be his last.

With his deteriorating health and possibility of switching leagues to become a DH in the AL West, combined with the fact that this series will make the last time that the Pirates will play the Giants in Pittsburgh for the rest of the 2006 season,make this series a must-see.

After all, it's impossible to forget where the controversial Bonds started his celebrated career.

And it just might as equally diffucult to forgive.

When Barry Bonds left the Pirates 14 seasons ago, it certainly left a bad taste in many Pittsburghers mouths. And who can blame them? The Pirates haven't had a strong season since.

While we've been forced to sit back and watch the gorgeous PNC Park shine,Oliver Perez's decline,the starting rotation's ERA swell up like Barry's muscles,and Ryan Howard slamming Home Run Derby balls into the Allegheny river for the nation's glee, Pirates fans have been forced to be subjected to other, not so fun, events.

Every time Barry Bonds hits another Cooperstown chasing home run,that bad taste returns.

We have watched sportscenter for years now, seeing Barry glorified and put on a pedestal, even if it is for controversial reasons.

Whereever he goes, Bonds is met with boos.

Some boo him for being a possible cheater.
Some boo him for jealously.

For Pirates fans, it's personal.

and I can't look away.

Barry Bonds coming to Pittsburgh for what is likely his last time here, where his career started, might be one of the few must-see moments of the 2006 season.

I,myself, am not a Bonds supporter, but I'll be there at PNC attending this series.
I would like to see other Pirates fans do the same.
This man, love him or hate him, will go down as being one of the biggest names associated with the franchise.

For me, it's worth seeing it in person, one last time.

Willie Roaf retires

2006-07-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

Well, for anyone lucky enough to be blessed with the first selection in their fantasy football draft,they might want to think twice before pouncing on Larry Johnson.

Willie Roaf,one of the premier tackles in the NFL, on the excellent Kansas City Chief offensive line,announced his retirement today.

He made his announcement prior to stating that he wanted to abandon football to pursue an education.

Roaf,36,struggled with hamstring problems,which caused him to miss six games of the 2005 season. He made the Pro Bowl 11 out of his 13 seasons in the NFL.

Because of his retirement, it is likely that former New Orleans Saint and St.Louis Ram standout Kyle Turley will be used to start at Right Tackle,whereas Jordan Black will replace Roaf at the Left Tackle position.

Am I the only one who sees a bit of Ricky Williams in this situation?

Granted, Roaf is 36,much older than Williams when he announced his initial retirement. However, when Williams announced his retirement,it wasn't his age that made it so devasting to the Miami Dolphins rushing attack.

It was the time - Just days before training camp.

The Kansas City Chiefs are a franchise on the cusp of once again reaching the post-season under Herman Edwards's first season as head coach. For this to happen, all the shaky pieces of the puzzle need to fit.

The last thing they needed was for one of the solid pieces to fall away,espicially after the signing of Ty Law earlier in the week was made to help bolster the secondary in a defense that struggled to stop the pass all of last season.

Rumor has it,that the coaches in KC are trying their hardest to get Roaf to reconsider and play one last season.

The Steelers play the Kansas City Chiefs at home in Heinz Field during Week 6 of the regular season on October 15th.