Tomlin vows to shore up deficiencies in kickoff, punt coverage
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Tomlin vows to shore up deficiencies in kickoff, punt coverage
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
Browns return man Joshua Cribbs brought to light glaring weaknesses in the Steelers' kickoff and punt coverage. (vs. Browns 11/11/07)
The Philadelphia Eagles once found a good special teams player by opening their stadium
doors to all comers in an open tryout. Not only did Vince Papale, a bartender and Eagles
season-ticket holder, make the team, he played three seasons for the Eagles and became their
special teams captain.
Disney even filmed a 2006 movie about his story, "Invincible."
Any Pittsburgh bartenders out there who think they can cover kickoffs?
Apparently, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is not willing to follow the Eagles' approach of 30
years ago, even though he does not appear to have many players now who can consistently
tackle on kickoffs.
"Just because things go bad, I don't want to have a knee-jerk reaction and be emotional,"
Tomlin said during his news conference yesterday. "We are not in that business. We are
professionals. We have some guys that need to do a little better job at shedding blockers and
tackling. We have to do a better job at getting them in position to do that.
"There won't be drastic changes. That is not how we operate."
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Tomlin vows to shore up deficiencies in kickoff, punt coverage
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There likely will be some changes, though, after Cleveland's Joshua Cribbs ran through the
Steelers' kickoff team Sunday the way Roger Kingdom once ran over hurdles.
For one, two members of that unit are injured enough so that Tomlin said they are
questionable this week -- linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Andre Frazier.
For another, well, when the kickoff coverage team is ranked 27th in the NFL, when you
allowed kickoff returns of 90 yards to the 3-yard line and 100 yards to the end zone Sunday,
telling the guys to just play better might not be enough.
And yet for another, if the Steelers thought Cribbs was impossible to stop, wait until they get
a look Sunday at Leon Washington of the New York Jets. He's the only player in the NFL
with three kickoff returns for touchdowns; he leads the league with an average of 33.5 yards
per kickoff return; and he hasn't even had the good fortune of returning kicks against the
Steelers yet.
"The football gods are always kind to you," Tomlin said sarcastically. "When you are
struggling in an area, we get presented with the opportunity to defend the best guy in the
world at returning kicks right now, Leon Washington.
"Great! And I mean that. This game and this profession is about challenges and response. I
look forward to seeing what we are willing and capable to do in that area this week."
Presumably, that means Tomlin won't cover his eyes on Steelers kickoffs. He would like his
team to merely cover better, and more starters might find themselves running under Jeff
Reed's kickoffs against the Jets.
"Those are possibilities," Tomlin said. "It is early in the week. We will take a look at all of
those. We'll have more information as the week unfolds."
While the kickoff-coverage team has been in the spotlight because of Cribbs and other long
returns, the Steelers' special teams as a whole have not performed well this season. The
Steelers spent two 2007 draft choices on rookie punter Daniel Sepulveda and a '08 seventhround pick to acquire return man Allen Rossum in a trade with Atlanta. But overall, special
teams play has been poor.
The Steelers rank 23rd in the league in average yards yielded on punt returns, 22nd in gross
punting average and 27th in net punting average. They rank 30th in punt-return average and
13th in kickoff-return average, the latter being one area in which they rank among the top
half of the league in special teams.
The one bright spot for Steelers special teams play has been kicker Jeff Reed, who has made
14 of his 15 field goal tries, missing only from 65 yards in Denver.
"I'm not happy with much that is going on right now," Tomlin said of his special teams play.
"We seek perfection. We have to do a better job in a lot of areas."
Ed Bouchette can be reached at [email protected].
First published on November 14, 2007 at 12:00 am
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11/14/2007
Steelers Notebook: Clark, Tuman seasons come to end as they are placed on injured reserve Page 1 of 2
Steelers Notebook: Clark, Tuman seasons come to end as they
are placed on injured reserve
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Ben Roethlisberger has officially run 18 times for 135 yards this season. (vs. Browns 11/11/2007)
The Steelers have placed safety Ryan Clark and tight end Jerame Tuman on injured
reserve, ending their seasons.
Clark has an inflamed spleen that was discovered after he played Oct. 21 at Denver. Tuman
has had a disc problem in his back and has not played in three of the past four games.
Clark was the starting free safety before his condition was discovered. Anthony Smith
replaced him as the starter the past three games. Tuman was the team's No. 3 tight end.
The Steelers signed center Marvin Philip from their practice squad to their 53-man roster
and still have one spot left on that roster after eliminating Clark and Tuman.
Running takes toll
All that running might be taking a toll on Ben Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger, who has made many plays on the run and after he has been chased out of the
pocket this season, likely won't practice today because of various injuries.
"It's a lot of things," coach Mike Tomlin said. "It is his hip, his shoulder. He is banged up a
little bit. That is the nature of it."
Tomlin was quick to note that Roethlisberger should be fine as the week goes on and start
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Steelers Notebook: Clark, Tuman seasons come to end as they are placed on injured reserve Page 2 of 2
Sunday against the New York Jets.
So, too, should halfback Willie Parker (knee) and cornerback Deshea Townsend (ankle),
although both also are likely to join Roethlisberger along the sideline in practice today.
Backup linebackers Andre Frazier (groin) and LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) are
questionable.
Only two quarterbacks have more yards rushing than Roethlisberger's 135 -- Vince Young of
Tennessee with 217 and Jason Campbell of Washington with 147. Roethlisberger's 7.5-yard
average on his 18 carries, though, dwarfs the others.
Taunting addressed
Tomlin said he talked to Smith about a taunting penalty the safety received Sunday after
tackling Jamal Lewis and then lingering over him.
"You can't get taunting penalties," Tomlin said. "That is a dumb penalty."
Smith tackled Lewis for a yard gain to the Steelers' 2 on second down. It should have brought
up third-and-goal for the Browns. Instead, they had a first down at the 1 and scored a
touchdown for a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter.
Rulings part of the game
For a referee to overturn a call using instant replay, the evidence, by rules, is supposed to be
indisputable. Referee Ron Winter overturned a call in the second quarter after a pass to
Braylon Edwards in the end zone had been ruled incomplete because the receiver did not
get both feet in bounds.
Winter looked at the replay after Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel challenged it, and the
referee ruled that the receiver had both feet in bounds.
"I'm still not certain he got both feet down," Tomlin said. "I coach the game, I don't officiate.
We have to learn to live with the [officials'] decisions that are made ... "
First published on November 14, 2007 at 12:00 am
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11/14/2007
Steelers Parker, Roethlisberger banged up but will play
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Steelers Parker, Roethlisberger banged up but will play
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and halfback Willie Parker, among the NFL leaders
in passing and rushing, respectively, are likely to miss practice tomorrow because of injuries.
However, coach Mike Tomlin said both will play against the New York Jets Sunday at the
Meadowlands, and that his team, for the most part, is healthy.
Roethlisberger has a hip and shoulder injury and Parker a slight knee injury. Also,
cornerback Deshea Townsend is unlikely to practice tomorrow because of an ankle injury but
Tomlin also expects him to play.
Two players who won't play are tight end Jerame Tuman (back) and safety Ryan Clark
(spleen). Tomlin said neither is showing much progress.
Backup linebackers Andre Frazier (groin) and LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) are questionable
at the moment, Tomlin said.
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
First published on November 13, 2007 at 1:11 pm
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11/14/2007
Steelers' Tomlin seeks 'special' answer - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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Steelers' Tomlin seeks 'special' answer
By Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
He is usually sharply dressed, even if in casual clothes, and Mike Tomlin's
answers are as well-presented as he is when he gives his weekly media
briefing at the Steelers' South Side facility.
The Steelers coach fills notebooks with thoughtful if at times scripted answers,
and he never seems to betray much emotion.
His voice did rise Tuesday as he talked about the Steelers trying to stop the No.
1 kickoff returner in the NFL Sunday when they play the New York Jets,
showing for a brief moment that the competitor in Tomlin always lurks close to
the surface.
"Great, and I mean that," Tomlin said about the Steelers facing Leon
Washington, who already has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns this
season. "This game and this profession is about challenges. I look forward to
seeing what we're capable of doing in that area."
They faltered badly in that area Sunday, as Cleveland's Josh Cribbs burned the
Steelers for 204 kickoff return yards as well as a touchdown that almost cost
them the game.
Despite the comedy of errors that generally ensued when the Steelers kicked
off against the Browns, Tomlin said he doesn't plan to make any "drastic"
changes to the unit that is statistically among the worst in the NFL.
Troubled coverage
The Steelers' kickoff and punt coverage teams have struggled this season.
Here is a by-the-numbers look at them:
2 - Touchdown returns allowed (one punt, one kickoff).
30 - Steelers' NFL rank in kickoff coverage.
31.7 - The average starting field position for teams following a Steelers kickoff.
Tomlin did not rule out using more starters on the kickoff coverage team -- and
he may have to, since two players on that unit, LaMarr Woodley (hamstring)
and Andre Frazier (groin), are questionable for Sunday's 4:05 game -- but he
indicated that the Steelers won't make any roster changes to address their
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11/14/2007
Steelers' Tomlin seeks 'special' answer - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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special-teams' woes.
"We're not doing well right now," Tomlin said, "but the answers are probably
right in front of us, and the adjustments are probably minor, and that's the way
we're approaching it."
CBS analyst Phil Simms, who did the color commentary for the BrownsSteelers game, said that is the right approach to take.
The mistakes the Steelers made against the Browns, Simms added, can be and
will be corrected.
"Now the coach has their attention," said Simms, who will work the SteelersJets game for CBS. "In the long run, I think (the Browns' game) will help them."
Tomlin is still at a loss for what happened against the Browns, particularly on
Cribbs' 100-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter.
He misplayed Jeff Reed's kick, and the Steelers appeared to be in good
position when Cribbs picked up the ball on the goal line.
But shoddy tackling allowed him to get through the first wave of defenders, and
Cribbs was gone after breaking free from Frazier near the 20-yard line.
"I'd have a tough time saying anybody's doing well on kickoff coverage right
now," Tomlin said, "including me."
The Steelers have to shore up their leaky coverage quickly.
Washington leads the NFL in kickoff returns (33.5 yards per return), and he
looms as a potential equalizer in a game that pits a 7-2 team against a 1-8 one.
Tomlin said he won't decide until later in the week if the Steelers will kick to
Washington or try to keep the ball away from him.
Whatever strategy he chooses, it won't change the emphasis that will be placed
on improving the kick coverage units this week.
"We've got some guys that we feel can do a better job of shedding blocks,"
Tomlin said. "We've got to do a better job of getting into position to do that."
Scott Brown can be reached at [email protected] or 412-481-5432.
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11/14/2007
Tomlin's Take: Quotes from the press conference - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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Tomlin's Take: Quotes from the press conference
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
On the difficulty running back Willie Parker has had cutting at Heinz Field
and the condition of the playing surface:
"If I start talking about the footing and the field in regard to the quality of play,
then those would be excuses. I like to keep the discussion between Willie and
myself on what he sees, his decision-making. We've got to get better in that
regard. We've got to get better at sustaining blocks for him. I'm excited that he
feels like he left some yards out there (in the Cleveland game), because I
believe that he did. As far as the field, as long as we deal with it better then our
opponent, I like it."
On the Steelers going undefeated during the recent three-game stretch
against division foes:
"At this point and time, I'm at least willing to acknowledge that we had a critical
stretch of games there. When the schedule comes out, the hair stands up on
the back of your neck a little bit looking at that run. You play known opponents,
it's an emotional game. To go 3-0 in that run, I think it speaks to the potential of
what we're capable of. That was a nice run for us and we move forward."
On why the Steelers didn't make significant defensive adjustments at
halftime of Sunday's game:
"Sometimes people tend to panic when they're faced with adversity and want to
change. I'll always be resistant to that because I trust our men and I trust our
preparation. Schematically, I thought we were sound. Fundamentally, I thought
we were sound. A lot of times when you change, you create new problems. We
knew what our issues were. We needed to continue doing what we were doing,
doing it a little bit better, and that's what we did."
On cornerback Ike Taylor:
"I think he's playing great football for us. Is he capable of playing better?
Absolutely. Do we need more 'splash plays' from him? Absolutely. He and I
have in-depth discussions often about (expectations), and this guy wants to be
a great player. He's willing to do on a day-to-day basis what's required to be a
great player."
On the call that was changed from an incomplete pass to a Braylon
Edwards touchdown reception after the Browns challenged the ruling on
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11/14/2007
Tomlin's Take: Quotes from the press conference - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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field:
"I'm still not certain that he got both feet down. But I coach the game, I don't
officiate. We've got to learn to live with the decisions that are made in regard to
that element of the game because regardless of what they decide we have to
move on."
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11/14/2007
Steelers' Clark, Tuman out against Jets - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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Steelers' Clark, Tuman out against Jets
By Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
It looks like free safety Ryan Clark (spleen) and tight end Jerame Tuman (back)
won't play Sunday when the Steelers visit the New York Jets for a 4:05 p.m.
game.
"There's been no real progress on each front," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said
Tuesday at his weekly news conference.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger might not practice today because of a sore hip
and sore shoulder. Running back Willie Parker (knee) and cornerback Deshea
Townsend (ankle) are also nursing minor injuries.
"For the most part, we have no complaints in the injury department," Tomlin
said.
• In addition to the Steelers' kick coverage, Tomlin said he is not happy with
what the Steelers have done in their return game. They rank 13th in the NFL in
kickoff return average (23.8 yards) but are 30th in punt return average (6.5).
Despite the struggles they have had in the latter, Tomlin said he is not
considering giving Santonio Holmes a chance to return punts over Allen
Rossum. The second-year wide receiver returned punts in 2006 and had some
success, though he also had fumbling issues early in the season.
• The Jets took cornerback Darrelle Revis one pick ahead of the Steelers in the
first round of April's draft (14th overall), and the former Aliquippa High and Pitt
star has made 57 tackles and one interception in nine games. Another former
Panthers player, Hank Poteat, is the Jets' other starting cornerback. Poteat was
a third-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2000 and played three seasons in
Pittsburgh. Revis had been among the players the Steelers seriously looked at
leading up to the draft. They took outside linebacker Lawrence Timmons after
the Jets drafted Revis.
"He would have been in consideration had someone (else) picked Timmons,"
Tomlin said of the Steelers' interest in Revis.
Digits
1 - Steelers' rank among 32 NFL teams in total defense.
29 - Jets' rank among NFL teams in total offense.
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Steelers' Clark, Tuman out against Jets - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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229.4 - Yards per game the Steelers have allowed.
290.2 - Yards per game the Jets have gained.
Scott Brown can be reached at [email protected] or 412-481-5432.
Images and text copyright © 2007 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
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11/14/2007
Nothing special about Steelers' kicking - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Page 1 of 3
Nothing special about Steelers' kicking
By The Associated Press
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 7-2, the third time in four seasons their record has
been that good or better through nine games. Next up on their schedule are the
Jets and Dolphins, who own exactly one victory between them.
The Steelers' offense is more multidimensional than it has been in years. They
have three productive receivers (Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Heath
Miller), a breakaway runner in Willie Parker and a quarterback, Ben
Roethlisberger, who is enjoying a turnaround season with 22 touchdown
passes and only seven interceptions.
Defensively, the Steelers are No. 1 in yards and points allowed, giving up 40
yards per game fewer than any other NFL team.
For all that has gone right in coach Mike Tomlin's first season, the Steelers still
have a problem that has dogged them for years: special teams. Specifically,
they're having trouble on kickoffs and punts, an area that repeatedly reared its
ugly head during the Bill Cowher era.
There's nothing wrong with Jeff Reed's kicking or rookie Daniel Sepulveda's
punting. Reed is 14-of-15 in field goals and the only miss was a let's-take-achance-on-it 65-yarder to end the first half in Denver. Sepulveda is averaging
44 yards and has placed 17 of 38 punts inside the 20.
Converting kicks is a lot different from covering them or returning them, and
that's where the Steelers are near the bottom.
"I'm not happy with much of anything right now. We've got to do a better job in a
lot of areas," Tomlin said Tuesday.
The Steelers nearly lost Sunday despite outgaining Cleveland 401-163, mostly
because Josh Cribbs had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown and a 90-yarder
that led to another touchdown during Pittsburgh's 31-28 victory.
"One thing is for certain: We stink on kickoff coverage," Tomlin said.
Cribbs' big day dropped the Steelers to 27th in kickoff return coverage (26.0
yards). They are not much better in punt return coverage, ranking 23rd (10.5
yards, with another touchdown).
Likewise, the Steelers aren't having much success with their own returns,
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Nothing special about Steelers' kicking - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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despite adding former Pro Bowl returner Allen Rossum, who had a 98-yard TD
on a kickoff return Sept. 23 against San Francisco. They are third from the
bottom in punt returns with a 6.5 average.
Interestingly, Steelers special teams coach Bob Ligashesky is no stranger to
this situation. He was let go by St. Louis earlier this year following two seasons
there with similar problems.
The Rams finished near the bottom last season in punt returns, kickoff returns
and kickoff coverage and yielded three return touchdowns. In a performance
much like Cribbs' on Sunday, the Bears' Devin Hester had two kickoff return
scores against the Rams last Dec. 11.
When Ligashesky ran Pitt's special teams from 2000-03, the Panthers lost a
2002 game against Texas A&M partly because of two botched extra points. The
Panthers twice lined up in a gimmicky formation that was illegal.
Following Cribbs' returns on Sunday, Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who
has forced five fumbles on defense and special teams the last two weeks,
voluntarily jumped onto the kickoff return coverage. Harrison suggested more
regulars might join him.
"He recognized the gravity of the situation," Tomlin said. "We needed
assistance."
However, Tomlin won't make major changes because he doesn't believe that is
the proper way to correct a problem.
"We're not doing real well right now, but the answers are probably in front of us.
And the adjustments are probably minor," Tomlin said. "I think everybody
knows we need to get better in that area."
The Steelers will be challenged Sunday by the Jets' Leon Washington, who
leads the league averaging 33.5 yards on kickoff returns, including three for
touchdowns.
"The football gods are always kind to you. When you're struggling in an area,
we get presented with the opportunity to defend against the best guy in the
world at returning kicks right now," Tomlin said. "This game is about challenges
and about responding, and I look forward to see what we're willing to do in that
area this week."
Notes: Tomlin isn't convinced Browns WR Braylon Edwards got both feet
inbounds during his touchdown catch Sunday. Edwards was initially ruled out of
bounds, but the call was overturned on replay. ... Tomlin isn't considering using
Holmes as a punt returner. ... TE Jeramy Tuman (back) and S Ryan Clark
(spleen) are expected to miss the Jets game. LB Andre Frazier (groin) will be
questionable on the initial injury report, as will LB LaMarr Woodley (hamstring).
The Associated Press can be reached at or .
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11/14/2007
3rd-grader gets to bring Hines Ward to school - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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3rd-grader gets to bring Hines Ward to school
By Francine Garrone
The Valley News Dispatch
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Drew Hreha has a new friend.
And although his friend doesn't ride a school bus daily, he does encourage
children throughout the Pittsburgh region to join after-school programs.
Hreha's new friend is Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward.
"This is really exciting," said Drew, 9. "I have a real NFL player and the Super
Bowl XL MVP at school with me."
Drew, a third-grader at Apollo-Ridge Elementary School in Spring Church, Kiski
Township, won the opportunity to take Ward to school after entering a contest
this summer on NFLRush.com.
The contest, "NFL Take a Player to School," is sponsored by the JCPenney
Afterschool Fund and the National Football League.
It promotes after-school activities that give children a chance to develop healthy
lifestyles, improve social skills and enhance academic performances.
Apollo-Ridge Elementary School received a $1,000 grant to help support school
and after-school programs.
Drew's parents, Ron and Joanne Hreha, learned that Drew was the lucky
winner about a month ago.
"When my mom told me, all I kept saying was, 'Are you serious?' " Drew said.
In addition to taking Ward to school, Drew won Steelers apparel and a football
signed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
After showing Ward his bedroom and baseball trophies at the family home in
North Apollo, Drew, his younger brother, Zach, 5, and Ward jumped into a black
limo and were chauffeured to the elementary school.
At school, Drew accompanied Ward as he walked the halls greeting more than
600 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
But it was in Drew's third-grade classroom where Ward told the students which
rival teams to "boo hard."
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3rd-grader gets to bring Hines Ward to school - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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Students dressed in black and gold assembled in the gymnasium to officially
greet Ward and learn more about him, eating healthy and the importance of
physical education.
"My message really is to encourage kids to join after-school programs and
participate in physical education," Ward said. "They need to just enjoy being a
kid. What better way to do that than by kicking it here with my friend Drew?"
Ward led Drew's third-grade class in stretching and gave them an opportunity to
show off their best end zone victory dances.
"Today we are wide receivers," Ward said, "... and I want to see your best
dance when you make a touchdown."
After catching and then spiking the ball, Drew kneeled on one knee and played
the football like a rock star would play a guitar solo.
Ward promised him he would do the same victory dance if he scores on
Sunday against the New York Jets.
He rounded out his visit by giving the children a chance to make a debut on the
NFL Network.
While doing a television interview, Ward introduced Drew and his classmates to
millions of football fans throughout the United States.
"You are all superstars now," Ward joked.
"We are real proud of Drew and this couldn't have happened to a nicer kid,"
Drew's father said. "I never thought I would have an NFL player in my living
room."
Francine Garrone can be reached at [email protected] or 724-226-4701.
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11/14/2007
Tomlin: No 'knee-jerk' changes to special teams - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Page 1 of 1
Tomlin: No 'knee-jerk' changes to special teams
By Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Mike Tomlin said at his weekly news conference today that he doesn’t intend to
make drastic changes on special teams even though the Steelers gave up 204
kickoff return yards and a touchdown to Cleveland’s Josh Cribbs Sunday in
their 31-28 win.
Tomlin said he doesn’t want to make a “knee-jerk” reaction to the Steelers’
struggles on special teams against the Browns. He indicated that the Steelers
won’t bring in any players to address their special-teams woes though he didn’t
rule out using more starters on the kickoff coverage team.
The players on the kickoff coverage team get a chance to redeem themselves
Sunday as the Steelers play the Jets, who have the top kickoff returner in the
NFL.
Leon Washington has already returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and is
averaging 33.5 yards a return.
"We better be prepared to be at our best to get after him," Tomlin said.
The Steelers could be without two reserves who play on special teams Sunday
as linebackers LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) and Andre Frazier (groin) are
questionable for the 4:05 p.m. game.
It looks like free safety Ryan Clark (spleen) and tight end Jerame Tuman (back)
won’t play against the Jets.
“There’s been no real progress on each front,” Tomlin said.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger may not practice tomorrow because of a sore
hip and shoulder. Running back Willie Parker (knee) and cornerback Deshea
Townsend (ankle) are also nursing minor injuries.
“For the most part we have no complaints in the injury department,” Tomlin
said.
Scott Brown can be reached at [email protected] or 412-481-5432.
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11/14/2007
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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2007 :: Last modified: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 7:33 AM
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Steelers special teams must deal with Jets' Washington
By Chris Harlan, Times Sports Staff
PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin had time to watch the tape of Sunday’s 38-21 victory over Cleveland
and paid extra attention to the 100-yard touchdown scored by Browns kick returner Josh Cribbs.
And it still confused him.
“It is a head scratcher,” Tomlin said Tuesday during the coach’s weekly press conference. “I am still
trying to figure out what happened. The guy misplayed the ball and he thought it was going to roll
into the end zone. It didn’t so he fielded it. He made the best of his situation and it was at our
expense.”
After allowing kickoff returns of 100 and 90 yards on Sunday, the Steelers kickoff-coverage unit
ranks 27 in the league, allowing 26 yards per kick. The punt coverage team — ranked 23rd — isn’t
doing much better, allowing 10.5 yards per punt.
Kick coverage has been a season-long problem for the Steelers (7-2), whose offense out-gained the
Browns 401-163 in total yards but still nearly lost because of Cribbs’ two long returns. The team
already changed personnel once this season, releasing former third-round draft pick Ricardo
Colclough and re-signing Anthony Madison, who was a solid special teams player last season for the
Steelers.
This time, though, Tomlin said don’t expect to see major adjustments.
“Just because things go bad, I don’t want to have a knee-jerk reaction and be emotional,” he said. “…
We have some guys that need to do a little better job at shedding blockers and tackling. We have to
do a better job at getting them in position to do that.
“There won’t be drastic changes.”
This Sunday they get another test when the Steelers face the New York Jets and speedy kick returner
Leon Washington in a 4:05 p.m. game at the Meadowlands. Washington has already returned a
league-leading three kickoffs for touchdowns this season.
“He is a legitimate kick returner,” Tomlin said. “Given our performance in that area here recently, we
better be prepared to be at our best in terms of getting after him. He needs no assistance.”
A second-year player from Florida State, Washington returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown
against the Miami Dolphins. The 25-year-old is averaging a league-best 33.5 yards on his 25 kickoff
returns. Cribbs, who averages 32.4 yards, is second among players with at least 10 returns.
And the Steelers could be playing Sunday without injured linebackers Andre Frazier (groin) and
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.: Print Version :.
Page 2 of 2
LaMarr Woodley (hamstring), who are special-team regulars.
“The football gods are always kind to you. When you’re struggling in an area, we get presented with
the opportunity to defend against the best guy in the world at returning kicks right now,” Tomlin said.
“This game is about challenges and about responding, and I look forward to see what we’re willing to
do in that area this week.”
Enough to kick the football to Washington?
“I’m not going to make any Lane Kiffin declarations,” said Tomlin with a laugh, referring to the
Oakland Raiders coach who announced last week that his team wouldn’t avoid Chicago Bears returner
Devin Hester.
“We’ll decide later in the week.”
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Steelers specialists lacking
Page 1 of 2
Steelers specialists lacking
By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer
[email protected]
PITTSBURGH - The Steelers spent a great deal of time in the offseason and training camp working on
special teams. Coach Bob Ligashesky worked hard to break down every facet of that portion of the
game.
While the Steelers' offense and defense rank in the top five in the NFL, the special teams units have
allowed opponents to hang around in games.
Placekicker Jeff Reed has made 14 of 15 field goal attempts - the only miss coming from 65 yards - and
rookie punter Daniel Sepulveda has been as good as advertised, averaging 44 yards per punt and placing
17 of his 48 punts inside the 20. But the coverage units have been the Achilles heal.
The Steelers have given up a touchdown on punt and kick returns this season. In Sunday's 31-28 victory
over Cleveland, they allowed Josh Cribbs 204 yards on four returns, including a 100-yarder for a
touchdown and a 90-yarder that set up another easy score.
The Steelers are 7-2, but as head coach Mike Tomlin said, they are far from perfect.
The Steelers nearly lost to a Cleveland team they outgained, 401-163, because they covered kicks so
poorly. One might think Tomlin would be ready to make wholesale changes.
But that's not the case.
"Just because things go bad, I don't want to have a knee-jerk reaction and be emotional," Tomlin said.
"We're not in that business; we're professionals. We've got some guys who need to do a better job of
shedding some blocks and tackling. We've got to do a better job of getting into position to do that. There
won't be drastic changes. That's not how we operate."
They had better operate a lot better this week against the New York Jets.
Though the Jets are just 1-8, one of the bright spots for New York this season has been the kick returns
of running back Leon Washington. He didn't become the team's return man until an injury to Justin
Miller three games into the season, but Washington has returned an NFL-best three kickoffs for
touchdowns and leads the league with 33.5-yard average.
"Given our performance in that area of our football team recently, we had better be prepared to be at our
best in terms of getting after him," Tomlin said. "He needs no assistance in terms of what he is capable
of doing. His stats speak for themselves. This guy has returned three kicks this year. He's a dangerous
player."
It would seem to be the only matchup that favors the Jets, who have struggled this season after winning
10 games and making the playoffs last season.
Pittsburgh ranks 27th in kick coverage and 23rd in punt coverage.
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Steelers specialists lacking
Page 2 of 2
"The football gods are always kind to you," Tomlin said. "When you're struggling in an area, we get
presented with the opportunity to defend against the best guy in the world at returning kicks right now.
This game is about challenges and about responding, and I look forward to seeing what we're willing to
do in that area this week."
The Steelers could be without two players who normally play on those coverage teams. Linebackers
LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) and Andre Frazier (groin) are questionable.
If they are unable to practice this week, it may force Tomlin to return special teams captain and starting
outside linebacker James Harrison to the kick coverage team. Harrison, who has forced five fumbles in
the past two games, has only played on punt coverage the past two games.
"I'd have a tough time saying anybody is doing well on kickoff coverage right now, including me," he
said.
Odds and end zones
Tight end Jerame Tuman (back) and safety Ryan Clark (spleen) will not play this week. ... Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger (hip, shoulder), running back Willie Parker (knee), and cornerback Deshea
Townsend (ankle) may be limited in practice Wednesday, but are expected to play. ... Tomlin said he is
not considering using wide receiver Santonio Holmes on punt returns. The Steelers are averaging just
6.5 yards per punt return.
Copyright Observer Publishing Co.
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Cable Plays Hardball With the N.F.L. - New York Times
Page 1 of 3
November 14, 2007
TV SPORTS
Cable Plays Hardball With the N.F.L.
By RICHARD SANDOMIR
Power is what the N.F.L. is about, and power is what it desperately lacks in its battles against cable operators
who will not carry the NFL Network on basic or digital basic.
The league has never met an opponent that has played smash-mouth business the way Comcast, Time
Warner and — to a lesser public extent — Charter and Cablevision have.
“For once we’re in the position of an independent programmer as opposed to a content-seller,” Frank
Hawkins, the league’s senior vice president for business affairs, said yesterday. And the resistance has
surprised him. Currently, about 8 million of the NFL Network’s 35 million subscribers come from cable;
nearly all the rest are from satellite.
•
The situation is nothing like when the N.F.L. sells broadcast and cable rights, and networks roll over and pay
what’s necessary to keep those games on their schedules.
CBS and NBC leaped off the Good Ship Tagliabue in the 1990s but returned with billions in hand, recognizing
how wrong they were to have strayed.
But the NFL Network stalemate has the league running to legislators and regulators to compel cable
operators to carry a channel whose lead attraction is eight games that start on Thanksgiving — games that
before the 2006 season were seen Sundays on CBS or Fox (some nationally, some regionally) and ESPN
(nationally). The scarcity of games lets cable operators say they carry enough: 248 on CBS, Fox, NBC and
ESPN.
“The eight games are a very definitive attempt to say the NFL Network is here to stay,” Jerry Jones, the owner
of the Dallas Cowboys, said in an interview last week. “It’s long term, and if it’s not eight games, it could be
16.”
Jones, who sued the league in 1995 and called it an “illegal cartel,” is the owner designated to expose the
“truth against cable monopolies” (see more on the lobbying/advocacy site, iwantmynflnetwork.com). Jones’s
interest is personal: His team plays twice on the channel this season, the first against Green Bay on Nov. 29.
“Millions of our fans just won’t get the games,” Jones said, including some in Austin and San Antonio where
he has cast Time Warner as the villain. So he’s telling fans to cast off cable and embrace satellite options or
new TV services from Verizon and AT&T.
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Cable Plays Hardball With the N.F.L. - New York Times
Page 2 of 3
But the campaign is weakened by the requirement that cable games on ESPN or the NFL Network be
simulcast on local broadcast stations in the home markets of the teams that are playing. That reduces fan
unrest if the primary audiences for each game are being served. But on Nov. 29, cheeseheads in Wisconsin,
who live outside the Green Bay and Milwaukee home markets, will be cut off if they’re Charter or Time
Warner customers.
Similar privations will be revisited, to some degree, with all NFL Network games.
The league began this inanity by seeking to build a billion-dollar TV asset and rejecting Comcast’s $400million-a-year bid to put the eight games on Versus.
The league moved those games from entrenched networks to one that Recalcitrant Cable doesn’t find crucial
enough to pay subscriber fees of 70 cents a month.
“Digital basic would work for us, but cable doesn’t want to go there,” Hawkins said, certain that the channel
cannot be planted in the netherworld of digital sports tiers — a right that Comcast earned last spring in a
court ruling that is under appeal.
While the league looks to others’ power to end the cable impasse, it has had its way with NFL Sunday Ticket,
which lets about two million DirecTV subscribers watch all Sunday afternoon games played outside their
markets on CBS and Fox.
Cable wants Sunday Ticket, which has made DirecTV’s its only home since 1994. But the league has had the
power of knowing that it never needed cable to make Sunday Ticket a financial success; it receives $700
million a year from DirecTV.
•
But in 2002, cable thought it might get Sunday Ticket — even if its success hinged on the league’s negotiating
around CBS and Fox’s veto rights. Those networks fear national audience erosion and local blackouts of their
affiliates’ ads if Sunday Ticket comes to cable.
In a letter hand-delivered to Commissioner Paul Tagliabue on Dec. 11, 2002, he was informed that
InDemand, the cable bidding consortium of Comcast, Time Warner and Cox, would pay $400 million to
$500 million for Sunday Ticket whether it carried it alone or if DirecTV stayed on at the same price.
“We’re prepared to accept a license fee around those levels for a three- to five-year term,” wrote Stephen A.
Brenner, the president of InDemand at the time.
But within hours of receiving the letter, the league announced a five-year renewal with DirecTV worth $2
billion. Why ignore cable and potentially billions of its cash?
InDemand’s offer arrived too late, Hawkins said in an interview in the summer.
“DirecTV’s deal was done five days before InDemand put in a bid that wasn’t a bid,” he said. Brenner sent the
letter, he added, to create a record “that they had tried and failed to get Sunday Ticket.”
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Cable Plays Hardball With the N.F.L. - New York Times
Page 3 of 3
David Cohen, an executive vice president of Comcast, said that Hawkins’s response was not surprising. “They
were never serious about making a deal with the cable industry,” he said recently, “and there was nothing we
could do.”
The leverage that had been the N.F.L.’s in its perpetuation of Sunday Ticket’s exclusive deal on DirecTV has
been reversed in the case of the NFL Network.
E-mail: [email protected]
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11/14/2007
Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript 11/13/07
Page 1 of 6
Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript 11/13/07
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ed Bouchette: Ready when you are.
SteelersZack: Ed, with the poor kick coverage really getting worse every week do you see a
quick solution to this problem or is this just something we are going to have to learn to deal
with until it costs us in the playoffs?
Ed Bouchette: Let's hold down the kickoff coverage questions. I know it's a hot topic but I
can only answer it in so many ways, and we want to discuss some other topics as well. I also
answer this in my daily question today. I'm not sure what goes into covering kicks, even
though I did it like many others on my high school team. One thing they teach you is to stay
in your lanes, because if you leave a lane and the return man cuts that way, it can make for a
rather big hole. Mike Tomlin said a little bit ago that they aren't going to panic and don't
expect any big changes. The only big changes anyone, including him, want to see is for
someone to start making some tackles on the kickoff team.
traffic: Did you think the Steelers ran it up the middle too much? I know they go over 100
yards, but that did not seem to be working, especially against a bad run defense.
Ed Bouchette: I don't know if they run up the middle too much, but I did think they did it
Sunday against the Browns. But then, when you saw Willie Parker try to cut around to the
outside and slip several times, you might understand why they tried up the middle more
often. I don't think his footing was the best Sunday on a slippery field.
James_Taipei: How many touchdowns do you see Roethlisberger throwing for this year? If
Tom Brady was not having a record breaking year would Roethlisberger be an MVP
candidate?
Ed Bouchette: He is an MVP candidate right now. I think Brady will win in a landslide,
provided everything stays on track, but Ben to me would be No. 2 at the moment. He'll
probably throw somewhere in the 30s is my guess. He has 22 right now and Bradshaw's team
record is 28 in 1978.
James_Taipei: Ed, do you see the Steelers drafting a receiver with their first pick this year
or next to prepare for Ward's retirement and/or departure?
Ed Bouchette: I think they better concentrate on offensive linemen.
PhillyMarty: Ed: The Steelers have just swept three division games, surely one of the most
important parts of their schedule. So while we have much to be thankful, you are fully aware
that us greedy fans want rings not pennants. And lets be honest, we are not currently playing
well enough to think we can beat the Pats, yet that is not too lofty a goal. So with that in
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mind, I ask you to evaluate 2 aspects of the team, that have been crucial to succes in the past.
The O-line and the LB'ers. From that group of 9 starters who is underachieving and who is
playing really well?
Ed Bouchette: The questions, keep in mind, should not be longer than my answers. The line
needs to improve and the linebackers are playing great.
JPBubba: Hi Ed, is Ben the come-back player of the year so far?
Ed Bouchette: Yes, and as I said he gets MVP votes too.
JPBubba: Is the AFC North race over?
Ed Bouchette: Not, naturally, officially. But I think everyone outside of Mike Tomlin
probably thinks it is.
Art_Vandelay: What was Bryant McFadden doing on the 100 yard kickoff return? He was
just running down the field like a spectator and made no effort to make a tackle. I hope
someone gave him an earful for that effort.
Ed Bouchette: It looked as though he were auditioning for Dancing With the Stars. I'm sure
when he looks at that video he wishes he would have tried to make a tackle earlier on Cribbs.
I think maybe he was trying to slow him down in hopes someone would come from behind
and grab him -- plus McFadden was being screened.
Art_Vandelay: Do you think the current group of offensive linemen were drafted or signed
with too heavy of an emphasis on their run blocking ability (based on the team philosophy),
and this could be part of the pass protection problems they are having?
Ed Bouchette: Not really. Maybe it's a chemistry thing because there are new starters.
Whatever it is, they haven't played up to normal standards here.
IzzyB: Do you think Tomlin will start to use even more starters on special teams?
Ed Bouchette: No, I don't. Hungry young players should be motivated enough to run down
under kicks and make a tackle.
steelergil: Hey Ed. I heard an interview on ESPN where Alan Faneca said he wants to
remain a Steeler. What are the odds?
Ed Bouchette: Not good.
FreeTankCarter: Ed, can you give us an update on Ryan Clark? How much longer will he
be out?
Ed Bouchette: It doesn't look good this week and for the first time Mike Tomlin said there's
been no progress.
RaleighSteelersFan: Is this the best defensive team we've had in a while? I cannot
remember our corners ever playing this well.
Ed Bouchette: They've had some good defenses here in this decade. It might measure up,
but I'm hesitant to call it the best until I see more, especially how they play against Tom
Brady.
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Steel_D: Ed, good to talk again. I are the defensive fronts we are facing that good, or are
there some real problems with the O line?
Ed Bouchette: As I've said, I think the O-line needs some help. It's not a bad line, but there's
something missing there.
cmupensfan: Ed, what regulars could you see playing special teams next week to prevent
kick off disasters from occurring again?
Ed Bouchette: We're putting a call out for volunteers from the audience. I don't know if
more starters is the answer, although I don't have the answer either and, the way they've
played, it does not appear the coaching staff does.
Bill: Ed, from an objective POV, is Hines Ward really getting a reputation as a dirty player
with other players?
Ed Bouchette: You mean those defensive players who don't like to be blocked, especially by
a wide receiver? Ward was rated among the dirtiest players in the NFL in a Sports Illustrated
poll last year. I disagree. Again, I just think those guys aren't used to getting blocked by wide
receivers.
2ndseed: Ed, cakewalk to New England showdown, or do any of the next 3 teams have a
chance to surprise us?
Ed Bouchette: As Mike Tomlin said of the Jets, they are "dangerous." Why? Because, he
said, they are an NFL team. I'm not so sure about that; I think the Jets belong in the MAC
conference. If they lose to the Jets or the Dolphins, they deserve not to get the playoff bye.
Same for the Bengals at home.
cgolden: Kendall Simmons looked like he had another bad game last week, should Chris K
be pushing for playing time at all?
Ed Bouchette: Apparently, the coaching staff does not think so and when it comes to line
play, I'm going to defer to them because I don't concentrate enough on the OL play during a
game.
cmupensfan: Will the field conditions the Steelers had Sunday do anything to convince the
Rooneys to either use field turf or a better grass surface for the field?
Ed Bouchette: Nothing in the past has, so why should it now?
cgolden: Is the coaching staff trying to tone down Anthony Smith's attitude on the field?
He's an explosive player who punishes opponents but he looks like a "Joey Porter-starter kit"
when it comes to trash talking.
Ed Bouchette: That would not be a bad starter kit. I'll tell you a quick story: I covered Jim
Haslett, who was a freshman defensive end at IUP when I worked for the local paper there.
Haslett was mean and nasty and always was getting personal fouls. I finally asked his d-line
coach if he tried to tone Haslett's act down. He said he'd take the penalties rather than try to
take away his aggressiveness. As Bill Cowher would say, it's a fine line.
mg: As bad as the Steelers have been running in short yardage with basically the same o-line,
is it fair to say Jerome Bettis was the biggest part of their past success?
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Page 4 of 6
Ed Bouchette: Jerome Bettis is going into the Hall of Fame, so yes, you can assume he was
certainly a big part of that.
mg: Haven't seen much from Cedrick Wilson lately. Has he dropped behind Nate
Washington to #4?
Ed Bouchette: He's always been No. 4, sort of. Wilson plays behind Holmes at split end and
Washington plays behind Ward at flanker. In addition, Washington plays in the slot when
they use 3 wide receivers. When they use 4, they're all on the field but more and more Heath
Miller is that fourth receiver so Ced gets left out.
dobre_shunka: In your Steelers blog you mentioned that there are rumors that Lambert
stayed away from the Steelers reunion due to money issues, but other reports state that he
simply likes his privacy. Is money really a factor with Lambert and his willingness to show
up for team functions?
Ed Bouchette: I'm not sure, that's why I said they were rumors. But they are consistent in
that Lambert and the Steelers do not see eye to eye when it comes to compensation for
various things. Plus, Jack does enjoy his privacy.
cao: I caught a video clip on the internet Sunday morning in which Eric Kramer stated that
he couldn't see placing Big Ben in the same category as Manning and Brady until he lifted
the team on his shoulders and won a game for them. Do you think that Ben did just that this
past Sunday?
Ed Bouchette: I think he did plenty of that in his first two seasons, including the 3-game
playoff run-up to the Super Bowl. Perhaps Erik can't remember back that far.
steelhead_trout_corry_pa: Any chance you guys would consider posting the Steelers entire
press conference video on your web site for us fans that don't have local access to it?
Ed Bouchette: We would love to, but the NFL came out with a policy prohibiting any web
site from carrying more than 45 seconds of combined interviews of players, coaches and
other employees daily. The Post-Gazette has followed that policy and I don't think anyone in
the small or big-time media has challenged it, although it would seem to me to be a free press
issue. But that's just my opinion.
Stumpy_Howe: Has Coach Tomlin had a successful challenge yet? I'm guessing he has but I
can't remember any.
Ed Bouchette: No, I believe he's 0-for-4.
Biff97: Do you think the blame goes more towards Special Teams coaching? ... or the
players?
Ed Bouchette: I truly do not know.
RaleighSteelersFan: Do you get the feeling that Ben, this year, feels like he can put the team
on his shoulders and will them to victory? Watching him on Sunday, I had no doubt he'd
figure out a way for us to win.
Ed Bouchette: Play them to victory, perhaps.
cgolden: Would anything less than a 10-2 record heading into the NE game be a big
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Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript 11/13/07
Page 5 of 6
dissapointment?
Ed Bouchette: Probably.
cgolden: Is there any way Tomlin can petition the league so that the Steelers can have 13-14
guys on kickoff coverage? That seems like the only answer at this point.
Ed Bouchette: They could kick it out of bounds every time. That would be better than
watching the guy run for touchdowns.
GjSteel: Ed ... are the Steelers going to address the fact that we only have 5 rushing TD's this
year ... why don't they let Parker stay in once in awhile down there?
Ed Bouchette: Yes, they're going to stop throwing to Heath Miller and give it to Willie. Just
kidding, my man. They're obviously not as good at running it in from inside the five as they
were a few years ago. As long as they get it in the end zone somehow, it doesn't matter.
BongHitsForBlitzburgh: Ed, do you feel that the Steelers will make any moves to resign
Faneca, maybe using the franchise tag on him this year, and resigning him after Ben has been
taken care of??
Ed Bouchette: I think the'll try and I think they'll fail. And, no, I don't think they'll put that
tag on him.
not_so_special: Ed, do you feel the Steelers will hold the #2 seed the rest of the season? I
feel the toughest game remaining is on 12/9.
Ed Bouchette: That was a wild guess you made picking that game against New England as
their toughest. I think they need Indy to lose one or two more to maintain their No. 2 seed.
tom: Ed, what is going on with all the slipping on the field? There were 4 guys on the
kickoff TD that looked like they were on skates at the 5 yard line, and the same with Parker
Ed Bouchette: I don't know if they're wearing the proper cleats.
RaleighSteelersFan: Can you comment on whether you think the team would be 7-2 had we
kept Whisenhunt or Grimm as the coach?
Ed Bouchette: I'd love to but I truly would not know what to say. 9-0? 0-9? 2-7? 7-2? Can't
tell you.
cgolden: Do you think Ben is the best fit of any QB for this offense? It seems like Brady or
Manning would get killed behind the OLine.
Ed Bouchette: I don't think Tom Brady would because he would find a way.
jefft64: Ed--assuming the Steelers could somehow get past NE (I know, I know), how do
they stack up against Green Bay or Dallas?
Ed Bouchette: Hello! It's November 13.
steelhead_trout_corry_pa: Is it true that the Steelers scratched fullback Dan Kreider in
order to dress an extra special teams player and bolster their kick coverage?
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Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat transcript 11/13/07
Page 6 of 6
Ed Bouchette: Yes. Worked great, no?
Cloud_of_Dust: Is Carey Davis in someone's doghouse. In the few times he's been given the
ball between the tackles, he's shown an ability to break tackles and earn the tough yards. The
first half field goals were another example of the Steelers' struggles in short yardage
situations and it seems like Carey should be given a shot in these situations. Is there
something wrong with his game that the fans don't see?
Ed Bouchette: I think if they're going to put Carey Davis at fullback instead of Dan Kreider,
they should put the ball in his belly a few more times. I'm with you.
mg: Why in the name of Ricardo Colclough would Allen Rossum not fair catch that last punt
instead of letting it roll 15 yards?
Ed Bouchette: He said because he counted only 10 Steelers on the field. I could understand
why he might not want to return the punt under those circumstances, but even if he were the
only Steeler on the field it would have made sense to fair catch on that play.
DC_DIVA: Please clarify - I didn't think teams were allowed to call timeouts to decide
whether or not to challenge, a la Romeo C. on Sunday. Is this ok in the rules? Granted they
run the risk of losing 2 timeouts (a la RC), but isn't that too generous?
Ed Bouchette: No, I think if you want to waste a timeout to consider calling for a challenge,
you should be able to do so. I don't think there's anything in the rules about it, but I don't
have a rulebook in front of me as I'm answering this. I'll try to find out for sure.
DC_DIVA: PS - Whoever is up in the booth telling MT when to challenge needs to be
replaced.
Ed Bouchette: I'll consider the word passed on to MT.
Ed Bouchette: Thanks again for another good Tuesday. See you next week.
First published on November 13, 2007 at 2:19 pm
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11/14/2007
SI.com - Writers - Peter King: No need to tie up big dollars at running back - Tuesday No... Page 1 of 3
Bargain backs
This season proves folly of investing heavily in RBs
Posted: Tuesday November 13, 2007 3:27PM; Updated: Tuesday November 13, 2007 7:49PM
Did you notice the rushing leaderboard for Week 10? And did
you notice the inactives last night for the Seahawks? There's a
correlation. And the moral of the story is that running back is the
last position I'd ever spend big free-agent money on if I ran an
NFL franchise.
Check out the weekend's top five rushers, and how they entered
the NFL:
1. Clinton Portis, Washington, second round.
2. Jesse Chatman, Miami, undrafted.
3. Ryan Grant, Green Bay, undrafted.
4. Selvin Young, Denver, undrafted.
5. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh, undrafted.
Check out the Seattle inactives: Shaun Alexander, with knee and
ankle injuries, and the weight of an eight-year, $62-million
contract on his burdened shoulders.
Undrafted rookie Ryan Grant ran for 119
Running backs are the curse of the NFL. Look at Chicago, which
yards and a touchdown to lead the Packers
in the last 13 drafts has taken Rashaan Salaam, Curtis Enis and
past the Vikings last Sunday.
Cedric Benson in the first round and been disappointed by all
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
three. Look at Arizona, which paid $7 million a year for Edgerrin
James, 29, who's averaging 73 yards a Sunday as a Cardinal.
Parker, Chatman, Grant and Young are hungry. Downright starving, probably, after being stuck behind good backs
like Jerome Bettis, Ronnie Brown and TikiBarber. With the injuries that ravage teams every year, it's smart to
have a good second and third back, but it's just as smart not to pay a first-teamer the big dough.
You can find guys on the NFL street to gain 1,200 yards for you. Happens every year. The lesson should ring out
in every front office in the league over the next few years: Don't pay big money for a back who's been a star in the
league. Instead, develop your own later-round finds. They come in all shapes and sizes.
MCNABB'S FUTURE. From Peter Hale of Woburn, Mass.: "Two quarterback-related questions: Any chance
Donovan McNabb goes to Baltimore, and would it be a waste if the growing consensus proves true and Brian
Billick isn't back next year?
My gut feeling is that if Andy Reid is back in Philadelphia -- and I believe strongly he will be -- McNabb likely
will be elsewhere. My two favorite landing spots are Minnesota and Chicago because both are built to contend if
they add an experienced starting quarterback. But Baltimore does make sense should Billick return because that
coaching staff wouldn't be able to withstand the growing pains of a young quarterback. I think it's unlikely Billick
will get fired, unless the Ravens have a complete meltdown in the last seven weeks of the season.
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DOWN ON RIVERS. From Rick Betourne of Chesapeake, Va.:
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"The Chargers are toast. Even as emotional as they were Sunday,
how can they legitimately be called a playoff team? Philip Rivers
is AWFUL! I kept saying to my son, 'Who is he throwing to?'
"Consistently, he was throwing to receivers who were covered,
double-covered, even triple-covered. People wonder why LT is
not having the same year -- Philip Rivers."
Rivers' decline stuns me. I really thought he was a ready made
NFL quarterback when he came out of N.C. State and now his
accuracy and decision making have regressed hugely. My dimestore opinion. The chargers have to go back to being a blood and
guts run team first, the way they were under Marty
Schottenheimer last year. I think it's ridiculous to suggest that
they've lost something in the running game other than the will to
run it. And once they run more consistently, Rivers will have a
less-crowded secondary to strafe.
The Chargers beat the Colts on Sunday, but no
thanks to Philip Rivers, who threw two
interceptions and no touchdowns in the
victory.
AP
MORE QB QUESTIONS. From Mike Kearney of Burlington,
Ontario: "I raise my green tea to you this morning and ask "Who is the No. 3 NFC quarterback in the Pro Bowl?"
Favre and Romo are one and two. For No. 3, is it Garcia, Brees or Hasselbeck? The whole world needs to know.
As of now, I'd pick Garcia, who has been the model of efficiency playing for a quarterback coach who demands it.
Brees has had one spectacular month, not good enough for the Pro Bowl, even in these watered-down QB days.
Hasselbeck has been more inconsistent than Garcia.
VINATIERI FALL-OUT. From Jay of Trenton, N.J.: "Hey Peter, do you think AdamVinatieri's missed
"gimme" vs. San Diego tarnished his HOF resume at all?"
No. I respect the question. But one blown regular-season game hardly tarnishes the resume of the best clutch
kicker in NFL history.
PAUL THINKS I CHOSE WRONG EAGLE. From Paul of Naples, Fla.: "How about a little recognition for
Brian Westbrook as the offensive player of Week 10? Three touchdowns and 183 total yards is too good to
ignore from a tailback. Quarterbacks get too much of the glory, and it's small things like sportswriters naming
Donovan McNabb the player of the week that perpetuate their inflated importance. McNabb is a good story, but
Westbrook is hands-down the Eagles' MVP every week."
You make an excellent point. I picked McNabb for offensive player of the week because of how he responded to
one of the most pressure-packed games of his career with a four-touchdown, zero-interception day. True,
Westbrook made one of those TDs happen all by his electric self. But I think a quarterback with the weight of the
world on his shoulders, on and off the field, deserves a bigger round of applause for playing well than a running
back who made some game-changing plays.
FAVRE-ULOUS. From Mark F. of Worcester, Mass.: "Saw Deanna Favre on last week's Monday Night Game.
Is it bad form to note what a babe she is?"
I will relay the message and you can count on two things. One, she'll be very pleased. Two, she'll blush.
TOUCHING STORY FROM A 49ERS FAN. From Phil of Toronto: "A story about Dick Nolan: I have been a
Niners fan since I was 14, in 1965. In 1972, when the team made its first ever trip to nearby Buffalo following the
NFL/AFL merger, I bought tickets. A couple of days prior I decided that it would be even better to drive in the day
before and hopefully meet some players. Accordingly, I called the team's headquarters and asked to speak to Dick
Nolan. They put me on hold and, a couple of minutes later, Dick was on the line (obviously, this is something that
would never happen today).
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"I told him that I was coming and asked if it was possible for me to attend the Saturday practice. He said yes and
told me that he would leave my name with security so I would be allowed in. Driving into Buffalo, I wondered if
he would really bother to do so. Well, when I arrived, my name was indeed there and I went in. I went over to
Dick to thank him for making the effort. He was a kind and gracious man, who took a moment to introduce me to
my favorite Niner at the time, Gene Washington. I would probably still be a Niners fan today if he hadn't been so
gracious to me, but his actions certainly ensured I would be a lifelong fan of the team, and him."
I'm going to give you the biggest cliché in sports -- the apple does not fall very far from the tree. Mike Nolan is
one of the three or four head coaches that I have ever covered, who, regardless of your opinion or stance, treats a
reporter with precisely the same respect. He's truly one of the most decent men I've ever met, in or out of football.
COMES DOWN TO THE COST. From Mark Matlock of Greenville, S.C.: "Do you think the cable companies
that don't carry the NFL Network are going to have a revelation here in the next week or so with that Green BayDallas game staring them in the face? Sounds like a lot of sports bars are going to be doing a bang-up business
Nov. 29."
It's simple for Big Cable: it's not worth passing on the cost the NFL is asking for eight late-season football games.
It's pretty simple really, a matter of supply and demand. I've talked to some cable people and they just don't think
the quality of the NFL Network for 12 months a year is worth making it one of the biggest ticket channels on a
regular cable TV menu. Stay tuned. I'll be writing more about this in Monday Morning Quarterback next week.
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