Miller Time

Perhaps you like local sports journalist, Ron Cook, perhaps you don't.  Me, I'm somewhat indifferent.  Sometimes he gets it right, sometimes he's the master of the obvious, and sometimes he's the ultimate contrarian, dedicated to disagreeing with every colleague or fan that he encounters. 

Nonetheless, this post isn't about Cook, it's about the subject of his most recent article, tight end extraordinaire, Heath Miller.  In what has been a season reading like a dramatic saga regarding the individual athlete, whether it be injury, resistance to change, or contractual issues, one man has stood above the pack as standard bearer and teammate.  Yes, his name is Heath, or Heeeeeeeeeeeath, as you hear echoing from practically every stadium he performs in. The appreciation for Miller's excellence is so profound, Steeler Nation is often caught Heeeeathing even when Miller's backup David Paulson makes a snare.  Dr. Evil be damned, understudy Paulson is assuredly Mini-Miller.  Who better to imitate?

Miller's contributions this season must not be understated.  Gathering in 56 receptions through 12 games is no small feat considering the amount of time Miller is asked to play the role of third tackle/nanny to youthful linemen.  Look at the performances of rookie tackles Mike Adams and Kelvin Beachum, as both were thrust into duty, and you will understand just why Miller is regarded as the most complete football player on the team.  Unselfish? This guy makes Gandhi look like the rich guy who tosses a gum wrapper into the Salvation Army bucket.

Despite Miller's ability to disrupt a blitz or knock any opposing linebacker on his fanny, his involvement in the vertical game is where the big money lies. What Charlie Batch learned on Sunday is that Miller can simply own the middle of the field.  What John Harbaugh learned is that to beat the Steelers, you should consider defending #83, at least a little.  Take nothing away from Miller's big time performance on Sunday, but seriously, shame on the Ravens for just letting him ramble freely between the hashes, like a crazed wildebeest cruising up the Serengeti. 

Miller was not to be denied that victory, displaying yet another attribute of a great teammate, ...refusing to let his or her team fail.

Let's just hope that we can keep Heeeeathing for several more weeks, and a few more years to come.

All together now:  HEEEEEEEATH!

Ike Figures it Out

Mike Tomlin and Dick LeBeau already had enough on their respective plates this week, trying desperately to yank the emergency brakes on a train that is careening out of control, both on the field and off, as panic continues to mount throughout Steeler Nation.  Starting corner Ike Taylor provided a little relief at least, as he shed a bit of rather astute light on what could be the root under his own seemingly overnight regression.  The media.  Yep, the Sultan of Swagger defied any resemblance of logic by suggesting that his string of poor performances, dating back to the Teboning he received last January, is simply a smear campaign stirred up by a local media community that doesn't want to play nice.

Ike went on to state (or ramble) that the numbers don't lie, a most intriguing statement coming from a guy who has gotten beaten and/or flagged with regularity through his last six games.  Taylor's conspiracy theory was leaked to the press just days after fellow motor mouth Rashard Mendenhall inexplicably chose to return from Tweeter purgatory to call out the commitment of various Steeler fans.  Unfortunately, Mendenhall's reign as moron of the week was cut short abruptly after rookie Alameda Ta'amu auditioned for Spike TV's Deadliest Chases on Saturday after downing a dozen or so Jager bombs out on the Southside.

It's high time for some of Tomlin's so-called men to behave as such, and stop blaming the critics and fans for their shortcomings.  If you or I screw up at our jobs on a consistent basis, we should expect criticism at a minimum, firing as the worst case.  The time for accountability is now, from the front office straight down to the locker room.  Steeler Nation is expecting results, not more excuses, theories, high speed chases, and if all else fails, apologies.

Year End Awards

Happy New Year to all PF faithful readers. Let's hope that your day is filled with feasting, libations, and another PSU Jan 1 romp. For those that were befuddled at Pitt's lackluster outing last night, well, let's hope it was one of those "out with the old..." things.

Anyway, I'm well overdue for some partying of my own, so I want to get rolling on my first 2009 post. Today's article is the 2008 Year End Steeler Team Awards. Once again, I realize that opinions are like assholes, and everyone has one. Feel free to offer comments, but these awards are strictly my opinions, with careful consideration taken from the numerous knowledgeable voices around me.

TEAM MVP: This award has numerous candidates, but after eliminating Paul Ernster, Max Starks, and Limas Sweed, the field got a lot tighter. Ultimately, I'm a big #7 fan, as I've been since week #2 of 2004. His leadership and big game poise helped carry this team through that difficult stretch of the 2nd half of the season and now has it postured for a big January run. Moreover, Big Ben's presence regularly injects his team with the confidence that any comeback can happen at any moment, and as Mike Tomlin always says, this is a mental game. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can be taken away from the efforts of the great James Harrison. Lastly, lest we forget that this defense had it's epic season largely due to the rejuvenated health of Troy Polamalu. Hmmm...

WINNER: Roethlisberger/Harrison/Polamalu (co-winners)

BEST NEWCOMER: Take nothing away from the acquisition of Justin Hartwig, who was a major improvement over Sean "Open Door" Mahan, but this award is a clean sweep. The unflappable Mewelde Moore was the typical minor free agency acquisition that Kevin Colbert loves to execute, one designated as a depth move. Despite a very sluggish start, the ex-Viking amassed almost 1,000 of total offense, scored 6 touchdowns, and anchored the backfield when every other Pittsburgh running back, sans Franco Harris, was sipping cocktails in the trainer's whirlpool. The very fact that the team called Najeh Davenport back from his Chik-Fil-A fryer station - not once, not twice, but thrice, - should tell you just how desperate they were for a runner. Frankly, if Moore doesn't step up in October, this team very well may have a few less wins in the left hand column in January.

WINNER: Mewelde Moore
HONERABLE MENTION: Hartwig, Keyaron Fox

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Clearly there should be no mystery on this one. The presence of Ryan Clark this year was yet another major reason for the defensive stiffness. Speaking of stiffness, I'm sure a few Wes Welker types out there are still nursing stiff necks related to Clark's big frigging hits. Clark returned from the loss of a spleen only to install a toughness in the free safety position not seen since the likes of Donnie Shell. Along those lines, #43 doesn't get as many MVP votes without the savvy Clark watching his back. This award leads us to ask the ridiculous questions: so what exactly does a spleen do anyway?

WINNER: Ryan Clark

BIGGEST WASTE OF TIME, SPACE, AND MONEY (The Alonzo Jackson Award): Even a solid roster like the Steelers has it's fair share of clunkers. This particular squad has an oddly excessive number despite garnering 12 wins. To qualify for the Zo Jackson Biggest Waste Award, one must simply demonstrate that the team is spending way too much money for his meager contributions, and his useless presence only helps justify why beer costs $11 a cup in Heinz Field. (detect any bitterness?) Ok, here are my candidates: Jeremy Parquet for his whopping 7 total offensive plays all year; Max Starks for his $7 million worth of slightly below average blocking; Bruce Arians for replacing the full back with that three yards for a loss play that causes us all to experience piercing chest pains; Marvelous Marvel Smith and the only lower back that's more fucked up than Mario Lemieux's; Limas Sweed, yeah, he's a rookie, but come on, you can do a little more; Ernster, he didn't really cost much, but man was he terrible! How many 19 yard punts can one man deliver?; Willie Colon, yes a starter, and somewhat developing, but also the man that has yielded some huge sacks, and two COSTLY holdings that eliminated big Nate Washington touchdowns. (NOTE: if you held Washington in a fantasy league, and you wish to send Colon a "special" holiday gift, just email me for his home address...)

WINNER: Parquet
HONORABLE MENTION: Arians, Starks, Ernster

UNSUNG HERO AWARD: Formerly known as the Larry Foote Award, given to the player who consistently does his job, and does it well, enabling others around him to play the superstar role. This year, we had our fair share of candidates. After long thought, we cast our ballots towards Deshea Townsend, the guy who consistently plays a solid CB position while staying under the radar. One exception to Townsend's silent existence: his pick off return for a TD against Tony Romosexual and the Cowboys was clearly the biggest play of the year, thus far.

WINNER: Townsend
HONORABLE MENTION: Chris Hoke, Ike Taylor, Chris Keomatu, William Gay

A Baker's Dozen

Kudos to all the North Shore boys for notching win #12 as another NFL season draws to a close. Despite the ringing of Big Ben's bell, the team executed well in a 'meaningless' game, and now stride towards January on a high note.

Some quick hitters:

• Sadly, we will no longer be able to mock Romeo Crennel in his sub-Arctic parka. Farewell, Romeo, you leave Heinz Field for the last time knowing that you were truly a shitty coach.
• Game ball to FWP for cutting through another Cleve Brownie defense like a hot knife through MP's hair gel.
• A quick shout to J-Cerv, Houtzdale's greatest tailgater. Looking forward to seeing his bootleg # 43 jersey on Jan 11th.
• All apologies to Jets fans for inaccurately reporting that Brett Favre would end their season with a big January interception. It was actually a series of December interceptions. As Packers fans would say, karma can be a real bitch.
• Kudos to A Dawg, as he was voted PittsburghFan reader of the year. (the ticket scalping helped his cause.) Russ's ban is lifted.
• Another shout to J.D. McNugent, Lot Green 22's most incredible underage party dog.
• Bring on the Playoffs!!!

Fast Talking from Fast Willie

Fast Willie Parker began stirring the cauldron of controversy as he eulogized the death of "Steeler Football" yesterday, drawing ire from head coach Mike Tomlin. Tomlin politely suggested that Parker keep his stiff arms to the playing field and not direct them at embattled offensive coordinator, Bruce Arians. Most fans should know by now that some towel twirlers will always clamor for the illusive "Steeler Football" regardless of how well the team is performing. I guess 130 yards of inside running trumps a victory any day. Go figure.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, brings out the Steeler Football montra and the old #36 jerseys faster than a game in which the black shirted fellas get stopped on a short 4th down conversion. Ask a Steeler fan which is more important: repairing the economy or repairing the goal line offense, and well...you know how the polls will read.

The last thing this team needs three days prior to the biggest game of the year is in house bickering over the offensive philosophy. With all that being said, it remains clear that the running game (with or without a fullback) needs to be stepped up. The more accurate reality is that it was two injuries (FWP's knee and Rashard Mendenhall's shoulder) that have hurt the running game far more than any play calling or roster moves.

Without falling into regression, let's focus on the outstanding victory on Sunday against the hated Cowboys. Here are a few pics from the "luxury" area of Club East.

Steve Matthews and his Montana whiskey get the picture of the day

question: which tight end didn't score a touchdown and help his team to victory?

QUICK HITTERS:

• Game balls to Deshea Townsend, San Holmes, and MP for winning "least hospitable fan" for like the 6th straight year.
• What was the actual temperature at the final buzzer? I could no longer feel my face.
• Kudos again to all Bethel Park grads as their team continues their improbable and historic run. Good luck on Saturday night. A Dawg says to watch out for hard running tailback Lyle Marsh.