Blog 'n' Gold : Mitch Berger

Are you ready. . . ? Steelers-Broncos live

Chuck Finder — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:36:00 GMT

8:36 p.m.: Jake Plummer with a beard looked like a rugged outdoorsman, mountain-man cool and dashing. Kyle Orton looks. . . like a wanted poster. From 1879.

Hey, it's no more of a random reference than a pregame show. "Hey," Stuart Scott shouted, "Big Ben, come over here." Oh, yeah, like that wasn't scripted.

8:38 p.m.: If you want a glimpse, a cable-esque view behind the scenes at Hank shooting these ditties, go to You Tube yo-self and search for video of him and the University of Tennessee dance team. Unfortunately, the two statue dudes don't explode when they tape it.

8:40 p.m.: The family of Joshua McDaniel cordially invites you to his Bar Mitzvah, the occasion on which he becomes a man at age 13. . . .OK, so the Denver coach looks 16. Got your permit, dude?

FIRST QUARTER

8:43 p.m.: So far, the Broncos are protecting backup right tackle Tyler Polumbus -- an extra tackle aligning at tight end, a true tight end in the slot in between Polumbus and a split tight end. They fear the Steelers' rush. And the Steelers need a rush because they can't cover Eddie Royal, and they couldn't cover the Broncos' receivers in the Mile High air two years ago, if you recall. . . 8:45 p.m.: Poor Ryan Clark. He's pacing like an expectant father. Expectant of Willie Gay messing up, like that should've-been interception? Amazing stat Ron Jaworski just offered about Gay: 69 percent of passes this season in Gay's direction have been completed. As Jaws said, why not throw in his direction? Broncos get a Royal push to a 3-0 lead. . . 8:49 p.m.: Big Snacks Casey Hampton and Gay need oxygen already? And Jerome Bettis never really had a problem there? Is it a bad sign we're asking so many questions already? . . . 8:56 p.m.: Don't panic just yet. But Ben Roethlisberger didn't look settled on that opening drive. He pumped but didn't get a good look when he had time backpedaling from the rush. He needed to take a chance or throw it away then, when he had a moment before Elvis Dumervil arrived (which may well be often tonight). Rashard Mendenhall looked decent, by the way, though you noticed the Broncos reaching for the ball on him. . . 9:00 p.m.: Keep an eye on that left defensive end position. Nick Eason or helpmate Ziggy Hood have to beat Polumbus, though so far the Broncos' haven't let Polumbus handle a third-team defensive end by himself. . . Wow, an incompletion! That's due to pressure. After all, this is Kyle Orton, it ain't Elway. . . 9:03 p.m.: Mitch Berger, kids! That's all I'm saying about that. After all, he did win a Super Bowl ring. . .

SECOND QUARTER

9:11 p.m.: The Steelers' offensive line has done enough of a job so far. Now it's on Roethlisberger, the receivers and Bruce Arians to put them in position (short outs or underneath patterns, anyone?). . . 9:15 p.m.: Thanks, Jon Gruden, for relating how Josh McDaniel and the Patriots didn't have an answer for the Steelers last season. But he and the Broncos do tonight. . . Of course, just as I type that, Orton rushes a throw feeling the heat, and threw a strike directly to Tyrone Carter, who got his first NFL interception return for a touchdown -- and only his second NFL touchdown in his 10-year, 143-game career. And three consecutive Steelers' touchdowns by the defense? Is that close to an NFL record?. . .Steelers, 7-3. . . 9:24 p.m.: Orton threw a nice ball before being clouted by Deshea Townsend, but the Steelers are getting to him -- with the rush and in his head. It should pay off later. . . 9:37 p.m.: Former Pitt assistant Jon Gruden, who constantly refers to them as "the Pittsburgh Steelers," as if there's no mistaking them with the Farrell Steelers or Pittsburgh Gladiators, pointed out something from film study -- every time Mike Wallace aligns on the outside of the bunch formation, the pass comes to him. Interesting. . . 9:44 p.m.: CORRECTION Carter's touchdown marked the second of his career. He took one back in the fourth quarter of the 2008 regular-season finale, also playing for an ailing Ryan Clark. So, what, that makes two in nine regular-season games for him?. . .9:48 p.m.: So the Boy Coach tried to run down the clock. Doesn't send a great message to his own team. If the Steelers could get a field goal out of this, it could well drive a stake into the Yonkos. . . 9:52 p.m.: Or vice versa, I meant to write. Hey, at least Limas Sweed can hold onto something. Just so happens it was a Denver jersey. Halftime, 7-3 Steelers, who start the third quarter with the ball -- and a chance to maybe run some sweeps, throw short to Heath Miller (remember how he killed the Broncos in the 2005 AFC Championship game?), run the hurry-up. . . .

THIRD QUARTER

10:06 p.m.: Eighteen plays in the first half is hardly ample circumstance to develop a rhythm. Now a no-huddle quickly gets you into sync, but we'll see. . . 10:11 p.m.: Well, ask and ye shall receive. They brought the no-huddle, Denver brought the blitz, and on a slow-developing cross pattern play the ball was swiped from Roethlisberger's mitts. Fifty-four yard fumble return makes it 10-7, Yonkos. A defensive scorefest. . . 10:21 p.m.: There's a quick reply. See how the running game opens things up, and how the passing game opens up the run? By the way, after dancing lessons, shouldn't Mendenhall be able to hip-hop down that sideline better? Anyway, a long Mendenhall run -- gaining almost as many yards as the passing game did in the first half -- and two beautiful Roethlisberger strikes, and the Steelers regain the lead at 14-10. . . . 10:27 p.m.: Orton indeed panicked on that bad third-down pass. Was that a Ziggy Hood sighting? Yes, indeed, the rookie roared in from right end on a two-lineman alignment. Anybody else notice, too, that Gay thought for a second about picking up that bounding Berger punt around the goalline? . . . 10:38 p.m.: Between Roethlisberger and Arians, you got to admit the play-calling has been superb the second half. Varied. Utilizing the run -- the counters, the delayed draw. Just a bad throw by Roethlisberger there in the end zone negated a dandy drive. Gruden talked about a "poorly thrown ball" and lackluster route-running. It's a sign, though. The Steelers' defense and offense are playing better. . . 10:42 p.m.: Don't miss this point -- the Broncos' defense is huffing and puffing. The Steelers have them where they want them. Meaning: on the field most of this half.

FOURTH QUARTER

10:50 p.m.: The spider sense says the defense is going to have to make another play -- a takeaway, a change of field position. . . 10:53 p.m.: Eason and Keyaron Fox caused Orton to hurry that second-down throw. Makes you remember how many front-line players are missing: Aaron Smith and replacement Travis Kirschke, Lawrence Timmons. . . 10:54 p.m.: Sing along: Mitch Berger, kids. A 24-yard punt is something you've seen before somewhere. . . . 10:56 p.m.: Limas Sweed alert, Limas Sweed alert. He was in on that first-down run by Mendenhall. . . 10:59 p.m.: Steelers need to score on this possession to salt the game, or maintain their mojo. . . 10:59 p.m., Part Dieux: How often do you see Heath Miller unable to secure a pass that hits his hands? . . . Still thinking, aren't ya?. . . 11:05 p.m.: See 10:50 p.m. entry. (Hey, it isn't often I'm right. Lemme bask in it for a minute.) Polamalu pick leads to Roethlisberger-using-his-feet touchdown pass to Mike Wallace. Steelers, 21-10. . . 11:10 p.m.: Two-score lead in the back half of the fourth quarter? It's pass-rush time that, in the film room, will become known as "Goodbye Polumbus". . . 11:13 p.m.: You know what those replays really show? That Orton is completely unhinged. Sure, James Harrison glanced Orton's arm while it loaded up. But Orton then promptly threw that ball into his lineman's earhole. . . 11:18 p.m.: Oops, remember that's Aaron Smith, Travis Kirschke, Lawrence Timmons AND Ryan Clark missong on defense tonight -- one-third of the top dozen, give or take. And Mendenhall went out of bounds after that long run? Don't they want to literally run out the clock? Why do I pose so many questions? Why do I pay for checking?. . . . 11:24 p.m.: The Steelers running the football -- 174 yards total, 155 by Mendenhall -- and running down the clock and running over an opponent, that all should look familiar. And check out the half-empty stadium, mostly occupied still by Steelers fans.

A signature. . .

11:34 p.m.: It's ovah.Nice hurdle by Hines Ward. Touchdown on, what, the second pass of the drive? Both to him, by the way. Eleven-play, 74-yard, five-minute drive, all but a few inches of it coming on the ground. And Willie Colon was back, so no apparent concerns about his injury. Steelers, 28-10. . . .11:39 p.m.: A second interception by Carter, matching that Cleveland game at last season's end, and it's complete. A remarkable second-half effort. A fifth consecutive Steelers victory. And, ahem, they closed. Next comes Cincinnati Sunday at Heinz Field, in a divisional biggie. It's often hard for Monday night victors to match their enthusiasm and effort the next Sunday, so we'll see.

Loose? This is their playground

Chuck Finder — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:06:00 GMT

Listen closely next time to the TV or radio interviews from the Steelers' locker room. Better yet, plug in my earphones sometime. The background hoo-hah is so humorous, with all the name-calling and kicker-foolery and inside-joking and shouting over the hoops-shooting contests, another reporter came over this week to see what was causing me to chortle aloud so much.

These Steelers are at ease.

Sure, back in the Bill Cowher Era with Eric Green and the rap-tastic fellas, the 60-Minute Men, they had their fun around the workplace. That care-free atmosphere didn't necessarily translate onto the field, such as the last time the Chargers came to tahn for a tight playoff game, in January 1995, now did it?

Jerome Bettis and the gang kept it free and easy early this century, and they ultimately enjoying one another's company all the way to a ring.

This current group -- with Mike Tomlin popping in and surveying the wackiness, with a piece of advice signed by M.T. among the other witticisms and zany photos on the dry-erase board entering their lair -- seems to pump up the volume and the camaraderie even more.

"We have a lot of fun," punter Mitch Berger said, and he should know. He spent a half-dozen years with the Minnesota Vikings of face-painting Jon Randle and Co. He has played in Philadelphia, Arizona, Chicago, St. Louis, even laissez faire New Orleans. This everywhere man from Kamloops, Alberta, has been around the league, man. And he's never seen anything like it. "I've been doing this a long time, man. This is as much fun as any locker room I've seen. The guys have a great time together. They all have a good sense of humor. Nobody's too serious about things." Right about now you're wondering: Cool, but this ain't a traveling circus. Isn't this supposed to be a team preparing for a Super Bowl chance?

Here's the, uh, kicker from the punter: "But when it's time to go to business and do your work, it's a very accountable team. You truly want to do well for your teammates and coaches. You want to be the guy who helps out. That's part of when guys get along so well. You feel accountable to the guys: You want to be a strong point of the team, you don't want to be a weak link."

Steelers-Titans Live (in-game edition)

Chuck Finder — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:55:00 GMT

12:55 p.m.: "What a demanding schedule," Phil Simms reminded. Yeah, the most difficult in decades. And that was before Tennessee started 10-0. That remains a pointed question: Could the wear and tear of such a difficult schedule, especially a New England-Dallas-Baltimore flourish, catch up with the Steelers psychologically, emotionally and physically sometime down this stretch?

1:03: Why wouldn't Tennessee snap the ball with Troy Polamalu in their backfield and a free 5-yard pass to a first down available? When Kris Johnson tried to run, the first one there to hit him was, of course, Polamalu. Interesting start.

1:04: Is Boomer Esiason's endorsement for MVP an omen for James Harrison? Is that like a Sports Illustrated cover jinx?

1:08: Two tight ends (side by side) and one back, Willie Parker, seem to be a message from Bruce Arians: Goodbye ailing Titans Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch, hello run.

1:12: Oh, OK. Let's throw the ball and give the defensive-line replacements some mojo on a sack and a couple of hurries. . . . Good stat on CBS' part about the Steelers oh-ffense failing to score on its opening drive the past five games. . . . One other thing: They oughtta give Mitch Berger a short field all the time, huh? Those 30-, 40-yard punts look a lot better when they bounce near the goalline.

1:20: Ruh-roh, Harrison shaken up? Blame Esiason.

1:24: Parker sure looks like a dandy one-back, or I-back. As with this drive, he'll hit some, he'll lose yardage on them once in awhile. Ya hafta live with that. As for Ben Roethlisberger's fumble. . . the Steelers have been good about limiting turnovers on offense all season, and both the Steelers and Titans defenses have been superb about causing them by the busloads. A helmet-to-back-of-the-helmet hit brought about Big Ben's fumble and head-shaking rise. What if he and Harrison are injured for the day, or longer?

1:26: Harrison returned. . . . Good replay by CBS showing Nate Washington wide open in the back right corner of the end zone on that scramble. And that is what Roethlisberger is supposed to do well, make plays -- running and passing -- with his feet, but not so much that time. With Roethlisberger looking shaken and the Titans' offense looking revitalized, it doesn't look good for the Steelers already, huh?

1:32: Roethlisberger returned. . . . Berger punting from his end line, double ruh-roh. Not a bad kick, though. Again, Tennessee likely will get some sort of score here, which completely turns around that first-and-goal situation the Steelers just enjoyed -- or, if nothing else, should've enjoyed.

1:37: Harrison went somewhere -- the little linebacker's room, maybe -- and Lawrence Timmons started the series for him. But, again, Harrison returned. So everything must be all right with him now. . . . Kerry Collins keeps finding open receivers so far. Hmmmmm.

1:41: Now Jeff Fisher trots out onetime Steelers training camper Rob Bironas for a field goal! (See Dec. 14 Houston, 13-12, for details.). . . Ed Bouchette from LP Field reported: NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison was taken into the locker room in the first quarter with a hip injury today. . . Also, due to technical problems, we were unable to post inactives in the pre-game edition, so here they are: Steelers -- No. 3 QB Dennis Dixon, S Anthony Smith, CB Fernando Bryant, LB Bruce Davis, OT Tony Hills, NT Scott Paxson, DE Orpheus Roye and the injured OT Marvel Smith. Titans -- No. 3 QB Chris Simms (hey, isn't that his dad working the game for CBS?), WR Paul Willaims, WR Chris Davis, CB Tyrone Poole, RB Chris Henry, OT Mike Otto and the injured DT Albert Haynesworth and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch.

1:50: Don't know if the Steelers should be up 14-3, but the Titans assuredly could be ahead 14-0 instead of 10-0 after that lovely, Collins-to-Justin Gage touchdown pass. Collins is 8 for 12 and picking apart the secondary. Not Peyton Manning. Not Tony Romo. Not even pass-efficient Philip Rivers. But AARP quarterback Kerry Collins.

2:01: Using the run with Parker and mixing in passes, with Roethlisberger making plays by holding the ball (with decent protection around him), the Steelers motor downfield -- which they absolutely had to do at this juncture. Why the QB checked off and went with a glacial-developing draw play against a speed defense is quizzical. But he compensated for it with a nifty third-down scramble, eluding his old Indianapolis buddy Nick Harper. . . . Tee hee, happy reunion. How's Mrs. Harper and the knife. We'll pay homage to that memorable play in a moment. What a great throw from Roethlisberger to Holmes, but an even better touchdown catch by a laying-out, using-his-forearms, snag-and-clutch-it-before-you-return to-Earth Holmes. Steelers within a field goal, 10-7. (Longest touchdown throw of the season, too.)

2:03: Producer Bdeff shows an awful lot of love for Roethlisberger in this video, but he does break down that Roethlisberger-v.-Harper tackle from the Super Bowl season:

Jack Splat Reed

Chuck Finder — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:29:00 GMT

No, Jeff Reed maintains, he isn't about to turn into Jack Lambert and go rogue-Cowboy-Cliff-Harris on every opposing player who strays menacingly into the Steelers' kicking territory.

No, he isn't about to react only to spitters, either. Which, in this case, would make that nickname Jack Spat Reed.

"I can't blame it on anybody but myself," this Steelers place-kicker said about the resulting 15-yard penalty that awarded Baltimore prime field position in the AFC North-clinching game the defense held on to win, 13-9. The Ravens' Frank Walker, so Reed surmised, went beyond the normal kick-blocking attempt when Walker hurtled himself toward Reed's plant leg on the extra-point that gave the Steelers a four-point advantage. Yet when Mitch Berger intervened to break up hostilities, Walker -- so contend the law firm of Berger and Reed -- spat in the holder-punter's face. And that prompted the shove from Reed.

"To this day, I think he was trying to take my leg out," Reed began to explain. But Walker's confrontation with Berger sealed the deal for Reed, who then reacted aggressively -- unlike you're normal, garden-variety kicker. Even though NFL officials found no evidence on tape (at least they did on Santonio Holmes' touchdown), Reed said of Walker, "He turned around and spit in Mike's face when Mike was trying to be the peacemaker. You can see Mike's reaction. You can't see him spit on film. But it shows no class."

Reed's reaction is something he regrets. "Right after I did it, I think every single player on the sidelines hated me," he added with a grin. "Forty seconds left. Give them a short field. That's not what you want. The defense saved me.

"People push and shove all the time. It's football. I wouldn't necessarily say it was a penalty. But I did push him, and that's what [the officials] saw. Looking back, it was stupid. But I think it was a classless act when you spit on somebody."

Ron Cook opined in detail about Berger's perspective on the incident, but check out Walker's version to Baltimore-area reporters.

Beyond that game, another Sunday AFC contest caught Reed's eye -- especially with the Steelers about to play at Tennessee on Sunday. Titans Coach Jeff Fisher disdained a 50-yard, field-goal try in the waning moments last week for a fourth-and-1 that failed and allowed Houston to close out a 13-12 victory at domed Reliant Stadium. Fisher afterward explained it wasn't within the kicker's range, and this was a kicker who made a 51-yarder earlier in the game, a kicker who made a league-record eight in that very stadium a year earlier.

"I know [Rob] Bironas personally," Reed said. "He was in [Steelers] training camp four years ago. We talked since [the Houston loss],, but we haven't talked about that.

"I don't know what [Fisher] was thinking. He has a strong leg. It was in Houston." Ah, but Fisher moaned about the wind in the open-dome stadium. . . . "Doesn't matter," Reed continued. "Conditions were perfect. He made one from 51 yards, anyway. I think in our situation we would have gone for the field goal. That's why [coaches] get paid to do what they do. But I don't understand it when you're down by one."

Steelers-Ravens Live (in-game edition)

Chuck Finder — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:21:00 GMT

4:15: Deferring on the road? Hmmmm. Interesting choice.

4:17: Sorry, CBS' Jim Nantz, but a one-point defeat of Tennessee on the road in Houston isn't The Upset of the Year. But, for Steelers fans, it either means the Titans feel vulnerable just in time for the playoffs. . . or they'll be some kinda hacked off at home for the Steelers next week.(Cincinnati winning a second time, isn't that an upset?)

4:24: Delay-of-game and false-start penalties on the Steelers' first possession? Not a great way to take the crowd out of it. "Crowd noise stopped the Steelers on that drive," Nantz's partner Phil Simms intoned. Well, a swaggering Ravens defense -- they're more and more like the ol' U. (Miami) every year, aren't they? -- had a little something to do with stopping them. By the way, it looks like Ben Roethlisberger might have room to scramble today, eh? (And, as quarterbacks go, isn't he a more dangerous runner than Joe Flacco?)

4:30: James Farrior just went off, following a collision with teammate Ryan Clark trying to tackle an option-running (?) Flacco. Will be interesting to see if the Steelers can thrive, let alone survive, without him. Thus far, though, with Troy Polamalu run-blitzing rather regularly, they're stuffing the Baltimore rush.

4:37: Actually, the Steelers appear to be running the ball rather well -- against this Ravens defense -- so far. As for the rumors about open punter tryouts tomorrow on the South Side. . . is Bobby Walden still alive? It reminds me of the old Gordie Howe line: How many goals would he score in today's game of hockey? "About 20," he said of his purported season output. "But I am 70." So is Walden.

4:39: Tennessee Titans update: Run-stuffing defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth left that Houston loss with a knee injury. That could significantly alter the course of that once-streaking team (though mostly streaking against lesser competition).

4:51: By my calculation -- and my abacus is rusty -- Mitch Berger is averaging 18 yards net per punt to this point (though that last one was a coverage problem, the returner deftly waiting until the defenders came downfield before surprisingly picking up the ball and running). But, hey, at least Berger can tackle.

4:59: Money Matt Stover... isn't he an AARP member yet? He kicked in that Giants-Colts Greatest Game, right? It's 3-0, Bawlmer, thanks to the punt return and the pass route where tight end Todd Heap schooled LaMarr Woodley on that long pass to set up the 28-yard kick to end a 7-play, 33-yard drive. Otherwise, Dick LeBeau and that Steelers' defense right now appear to have that conservative Ravens offense well scouted. You commenters appear to be onto something: This may well be a special-teams, field-goalfest kinda game.

5:15: Trying to answer AFPilot's comment about third-down conversions, the best I can find to show short-yardage rates is fourth down: There, the Steelers are 3 for 12 while opponents, against the NFL's top-rated defense, are a fairly decent 7 for 17. Roethislberger let the last two passes go pretty quickly, with at most five rushers. So the offensive line isn't being outnumbered there. After the generous spot and review on Gary Russell's third-and-one run and passes of 21 and 17 yards to Hines Ward and Nate Washington, the Steelers knotted this baby at 3-all on Jeff Reed's 31-yarder. Fourteen plays, 68 yards -- that's the kind of drive that could crawl inside those previously confidence-swollen Ravens defensive heads.

5:23: If officials are going to continue delineating who's "confused," every player and coach is in trouble. The 60,000-plus in the stands? Most of that is libation-caused confusion.

5:37: A 15-play, 69-yard drive that actually had Flacco completing passes -- five of eight for 34 yards after missing five of his first six attempts -- stalled on a poorly executed fake-and-post pass. Enter Stover again, this one from 26 yards. That makes it Bawlmer 6, Steelers 3 at intermission. By the way, that drive was almost 150 percent more yardage than the Ravens' 48 on their opening four drives. Some of it might have been the visitors being in a prevent defense. Some of it might have been the more multiple-move routes by Ravens wideouts, more lateral movement in backfield by Flacco and deeper drops by Steelers defensive backs.

5:54: Didja catch that first-half stat? The Ravens have compiled more yards on four returns (128) than total offense on 31 snaps (122). And, you ask me, Ben is getting enough time to throw against this Ravens defense; either the receivers aren't open or he isn't locating the best available one. Heath Miller just looked as if he flashed in the clear on the third-down throw-away right before Roethlisberger pivoted and reversed field. One play -- offensive or defensive -- may well settle this. And it still seems to me that the Steelers have running room, either between tackles or Roethlisberger scrambling.

6:03: Aaron Smith's sack allows us to shamelessly promote a wonderful column by Ron Cook about the Smith's family travails with their son, Elijah. On a lighter note, even if James Harrison doesn't get a half-sack's credit today or this week for that play, he's still a nightmare for both NFL quarterbacks and the Ravens -- who blithely released him years ago. I still remember talking to him after he had a big game against the Ravens in 2004: As his overnight bag, he brought out the bag the Ravens gave him to take to NFL Europe before he got hurt, got summoned back to the States and got cut for an old teammate, tight end Daniel Wilcox. One of his quotes then: "I was mad that they made me play in Europe and then had the audacity to tell me not to practice the first week [back]."

6:16: Man, Ed Reed is always around the football. And Santonio Holmes looked hurt after that fumble, which was a good call but an even better play to strip Holmes after that quick in-route. This could be the big play that changes the game, and it's on a Steelers' offensive turnover.

6:19: Minimal damage -- the Steelers' red-zone defense holds yet again, and Stover does a rerun of his Twentysomething-yard field-goal show. Nine-three, Ravens.

6:27: Holmes is back, forced to catch the tough pass for the Steelers' inaugural first down of the half -- 11 minutes into the third. Willie Parker was right: They need to run more, huh? Certainly would alleviate the pressure on Roethlisberger, and 67 yards on 21 rushes is considered productive against these Ravens. Hey, three of those average runs and it's fourth-and-inches, by my abacus.

6:32: Ugly fumble by Holmes on the punt return, but Keyaron Fox madesa huuuge play on that recovery and rumble. Not that I've watched every special-teams snap this season -- and he was hurt and absent for three games -- but he seems to be playing at Harrison-Yancey Thigpen levels on these units lately. Hines Ward took out Bart Scott on Roethlisberger's scramble, and Mewelde Moore got away from him on that short run he popped outside from inside. . . so, uh, maybe these running plays are indeed taking a toll on this vaunted Ravens defense? Still and all, the Steelers hafta get a touchdown on this possession, because a second straight fourth-quarter comeback seems to be asking wayyyy too much.

6:39: Holmes is exonerated. That attempt at a third-and-short pass by Roethlisberger goes beyond description. Homely? Medusah-like? Double yoy. Worst of all, Miller was open for the first down. Sometimes, a playmaker doth try too hard. And, uh, those comments about the Steelers' lacking third-and-short offense are spot on. A rollout pass with perhaps a run option wasn't an ill-advised choice, but. . . archaeologists are still trying to decipher that play. Good thing for the offense that the Steelers' defense bailed out its assets yet again. (See Deshea Townsend try and fail to make that interception? That's what I'm talking about with bad karma, trying to duplicate fourth-quarter magic too much.)

6:50: If I'm Ward, I want Plex as my personal bodyguard out of M&T Bank Stadium and Bawlmer. People must hate him more there than the Yankees.

6:52: Had Roethlisberger pump-faked in that direction, or at least failed to make the pre-snap decision to throw it toward Holmes no matter what, he might have seen Moore wide open on the skinny-post route into the end zone on that third-down incompletion. I played it back on DVR just to make sure -- Moore stopped in disbelief. Reed made it 9-6 after the 9-play, 54-yard drive. But will the Steelers get better field position in the final nine and a half minutes?

7:00: Ike Taylor had a legitimate gripe on that third-down conversion pass to Derrick Mason -- it looked like Mark Clayton got Taylor on a pick play, an illegal block. Doesn't look like this will end well for the Steelers.

7:03: Nice Ravens drive, using up five-plus minutes. Sack and strip by Lawrence Timmons, nice Holmes impersonation by Travis Kirschke. Still, a field goal can send this oh-ffensive beaute to OT. But the player of the game truly may be Ravens punter Sam Koch, with four of six punts inside the Steelers' 20 -- and way inside, at the 7, 4, 1 and 8. He entered today less pinpoint than that, with 27 punts dropped inside the 20 of 68 kicks overall.

7:11: Ninety-six seconds from the 1 to beyond midfield. Two minutes left. So what's the Steelers' rush? Why not. . . run the ball and some clock? A better question: You want to leave the outcome of this game to Stover's accufoot?

7:14: And Simms is right: What's with the panic, spiking the ball on first down? Once again, using my Big Eight math, Washington and Ward have 13 for 183 yards. Roethlisberger has thrown incomplete to them maybe five times total. So that means the rest of the receivers unofficially were a combined 8 of 20 for 59 yards before Holmes' 4-yard catch under monumental review. Nice catch: two feet down, possession, but did the ball cross the plane? I'm no official, nor did I sleep last night in a.....

7:18: Primetime fool wins the Comment du jour: "Will someone please tell the offense to come to work before 7 PM. That kind of tardiness is inexcusable." Take a victory lap, PF.

7:19: "We have a touchdown," Walt Coleman said. Lotsa Steelers fans making celebratory noise in Bawlmer. Steelers up for the first time, 13-9, after the only touchdown of the game and a 92-yard, intestinal-check drive.Still, is it too early? Polamalu seconds left (43)? And a penalty on the kicker, Reed, giving the Ravens great field position at midfield? Heck, they could go for the field goal and then try an onsides kick in this amount of time.

7:25: Wow, another fourth-quarter comeback. Another critical victory on the road, giving them five consecutive away from home, dating to that Philly debacle. Another critical victory in a murderous row: New England, Dallas and now Baltimore in succession. They secured the AFC North and, with another road triumph at Tennessee and then a spanking of Cleveland in the regular-season finale, home-field advantage could be all theirs through the playoffs. To this point, it's a radically different finish from last year's Steelers, too. The thing is, this time might be better suited for road-field advantage, much like the 2006 Super Bowl winners -- but that team had a reliable running game. Like Fast Willie said, such a missing ingredient could prove valuable come the muck of January.

7:37: My bad. All this, and the only artwork I've posted is Heidi Klum and Medusa -- two disparate babes. As makeup, I've posted the first Charm City song that comes to mind. Sing along with the Boss. "Got a wife and kids in Bawlmer, Jack [Harbaugh?, the former Pitt assistant who's daddy to Stanford Jim and Ravens John?]. . . "

Live Football Giants-Steelers blog

Chuck Finder — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:04:00 GMT

To anyone bold enough to think a 14-2, even 12-4 season was in the offing: You gotta another think coming, eh?

The Steelers' injury situation in the aftermath of this loss read: one gone for the season, one leg up in the air and one shoulder unknown.

Long snapper Greg Warren tore an ACL and is lost for the remainder of 2008. "Nobody has two long snappers on their team; what you have is emergency snappers," Coach Mike Tomlin said, explaining the usage of linebacker James Harrison who, for the record, is backed by fellow linebacker James Farrior. So the Steelers will hit the market tonight, or Monday at the latest. (Tomlin said the lack of a tested long snapper isn't the complete reason why Tomlin opted to disdain a 51-yard field goal attempt on the second play of the fourth quarter; part of it was the length, or what he termed "the outer limits of field-goal range. [But] wen you have a backup snapper in there, you knew that tey were going to come after it."

Punter Mitch Berger has a balky hamstring -- get it, his punting leg is "up in the air"? -- and safety Ryan Clark discloated his right shoulder, but said afterward that he felt fine and hoped to play on Election Day Eve against Washington.

7:35 p.m.: Ben Roethlisberger, throwing deep for a Limas Sweed he kept busy on this day with Santonio Holmes suspended and Dallas Baker ailing, was intercepted on a last-ditch, fourth-down attempt. Eli Manning, the latest Manning to win a Super Bowl, went into kneel-down, victory formation. The final: Football Giants 21, Steelers 14.

And the rough second-half patch of the Steelers' schedule continues, with a pre-Election Day game next Monday night at the Washington Redskins, with Eli's big brudder Peyton and the Colts to follow, with San Diego then on deck.

7:25 p.m.: Not only a one-touchdown deficit but an unstable situation at long snapper caused the Steelers to go for it on fourth-and-four with two and a half minutes left. . . and fail.

See how much an injury can alter things? If Greg Warren doesn't get hurt -- and his knee looked bad enough to be a season-ending injury -- the Steelers conceivably are nursing a 14-12 lead in these final minutes.

7:19 p.m.: After the free kick following the safety, the Football Giants moved 53 yards downfield briskly, including. . . Plex Watch! Update No. 4: More catches! . . .a nine-yard sideline reception by Plaxico Burress. The defending world champions regain the lead with an Eli Manning-to-Kevin Boss, 2-yard touchdown pass with just 3:07 left, 21-14. It's their only touchdown of the day, and it just might be enough for victory.

7:11 p.m.: Linebacker James Harrison, after too brief a sideline tryout, tossed his first NFL long snap over the head of 6-foot-4 punter Mitch Berger and bouncing out of the end zone for a safety. And that's how you yield four field goals and a two-pointer to allow the opposition to rally to a 14-14 tie. The hard way.

7:04 p.m.: On a fourth-and-seven snap right after he tried to improperly call a timeout when his team already had taken one, Eli "Chris Webber" Manning threw a lovely 30-yard pass to Amani Toomer, who did go to the same Michigan as Webber the phantom timeout-caller from NCAA basketball infamy. No worries. The Steelers' defense turned aside the Football Giants on three plays starting at the Pittsburgh 4-yard line, and for a fourth time inside the Red Zone the visitors -- this time after a 12-play, 62-yard, 5:42 drive -- had to settle at 8:18 of the fourth quarter for a short-range field goal, this at 24 yards, from Old Man Three Rivers John Carney.

6:36 p.m.: Here's a metaphysical question you don't hear often: So who's the backup long-snapper? Greg Warren went down on a punt late in the third quarter with a knee injury, and it appeared to worsen exponentially when he tried to walk off the field -- instead crumpling in a heap. The answer: Second-year man Darnell Stapleton, starting at right guard for the injured Kendall Simmons, promptly began practicing snaps on the sidelines to holder-punter Mitch Berger and Jeff Reed. Then again, with the offense on the field, linebacker James Harrison seemed to be auditioning for the punting long-snap duties by grabbing a ball and tossing back a couple of decent snaps.

6:12 p.m.: Kids, don't do this at home. Didja see James Butler's, uh, "coverage" of Nate Washington on the 65-yard touchdown pass at the 10-minute mark of the third quarter? Sure, Butler gummed it up enough to allow Washington to remain wiiiide open and catch Ben Roethlisberger's pass around the Noo Yawk 15. But then Butler inexplicably spun to his right, away from the left sideline where Washington had commenced running downfield, and appeared to be escorting Washington into the end zone rather than trying to tackle him short of it. Steelers 14, defending world champions 9.

Maybe Nate just scared him like some hulking, 1960s sci-fi creature. "Whoa-oh, there goes the North Sho'. Go, go, Godzilla . . ."

Or, for your musical entertainment...

6:09 p.m.: Salute, today's crowd set a regular-season record for Heinz Field, at 64,991. The last time the mustard bowl had more patrons inside, it was the 2005 AFC Championship game against the dread New England Patriots.

If you had 64,991 in the pool, please raise your hand.

5:49 p.m.: Noo Yawk safety Kenny Phillips might find a little less in his paycheck for his penalty and crunching blow of a ruled "defenseless" Mewelde Moore on a second-quarter incomplete pass in front of the visitors' bench. Given the NFL's proclivity for garnishing wages of its celebrated employees (see Plex Watch! Update No. 1, 3:56 p.m.), perhaps we'll soon see a NFLPlayersAssociation Debt Clock high above a Manhattan street. . . .

5:47 p.m.: Halftime at Heinz Field. The Steelers' last-ditch drive ends in an empty-set sack of Ben Roethlisberger. . . so maybe the Football Giants don't miss Old Gap-Tooth after all (see Using different formations, 4:26 p.m.). Giants 9, Steelers 7.

5:24 p.m.: Definition of one reeeeeeally bad play: Two penalties, one interception, one shaken-up receiver, one 15-yard additional boost, an immeasurable momentum turn.

It all started with Limas Sweed aligning offside, something correctly spotted by both the PG's Gerry Dulac in the press box and, slightly more important, line judge Gary Arthur on the field. Then, on Ben Roethlisberger's third-and-two throw down the middle to Nate Washington, safety James Butler clobbered Nate Washington from behind. The ball squirted out and into the hands of linebacker Bryan Kehl, who was only starting because of starter Gerris Wilkinson's injury (see Inactives, 3:04 p.m.). On Kehl's return, Gary Russell was flagged for a horse-collar tackle infraction, setting up the visitors at the Steelers' 22, and a woozy Washington was escorted off the field by team medical personnel. Plex Watch: Update No. 3: He makes a catch! It was only two yards on third-and-four, though, so Grampa John Carney came in and kicked yet another field goal -- this from 25 yards -- for a 9-7 Noo Yawk lead, its first of the game, with 3:31 remaining in the second quarter.

5:09 p.m.: Plex Watch! Update No. 2: He's in!

Maybe it was because his replacement starter, Dominek "Hasek" Hixon just made a splendid punt return, but at 11:27 of the second quarter and on the Football Giants' fourth possession, Plaxico Burress was allowed to join the offense on the field. Due to Hixon's return after the Steelers' Mitch Berger punted from his end zone, Noo Yawk was able to get another pop-up field goal of 35 yards (or one yard for each year since, what, fourth grade?) for yes-he's-still-kickin' John Carney. Stillers still lead, 7-6.

4:57 p.m.: Noo Yawk's Brandon Jacobs was credited with a 1-yard touchdown plunge on third down, at 13:26 of the second quarter. But, after seeing a replay on the big board and hearing the Heinz Field crowd roar, not to mention listening to his assistants with replay access in the press-box booth, Mike Tomlin challenged the ruling. Challenge upheld. Jacobs' elbow hit the turf, downing him at the half-yard line, thanks to a tackle by James Farrior and Troy Polamalu. On fourth down, Jacobs was repelled again, running behind his right guard and tackle, running into Gary Clark, James Farrior, Brett Keisel, Aaron Smith and a host of retro mustard-on-black jersies. Giants coach Tom Coughlin, not to be outdone by counterpart Tomlin, challenged the ruling. And, upon further review, the play stood as called, and Coughlin and the Giants were charged with the timeout.

We would like to challenge the challenge. . . , but referee Bill Carollo never saw the previously owned napkin we threw.

4:51 p.m.: End of first quarter: Steelers 7, Giants 3, but the Giants are driving nicely, at the Steelers' 15.

BTW: Ben Roethlisberger reached 12,872 passing yards thus far in his career, for third place behind Terry Bradshaw and Kordell Stewart, whom Big Ben is likely to pass by quarter's, if not game's, end.

4:37 p.m.: The Football Giants marched 57 yards in 11 plays and 6 minutes, 36 seconds, all for a 26-yard field goal (or one yard for every year he has been outta high school) from the antiquated John Carney, whose leg we swear creaked when he made the less than pretty kick.

Carney, not to be confused for the candidate for governor in Delaware by the same name, is old enough (44) to be the daddy of no fewer than 28 guys on the Steelers' roster. He is old enough to have kicked for Tampa Bay when Ray Perkins coached there and orange Bruce the Buccaneer graced their helmets. He is old enough to be the last Lou Holtz-coached player at Notre Dame still playing in the NFL -- and you didn't know Dr. Lou had a gig before South Carolina and ESPN?

Carney's Golden Domer helmet?

And he supposedly is old enough to be the last player still active from the 1987 Replacements. No active NFL player is older. Heck, Art Carney might be younger, and "The Honeymooners" co-star died five years ago.

4:26 p.m.: Using different formations on each play -- holy two-tights to start the game and a Limas Sweed sighting two snaps later -- the Steelers rushed downfield in four plays for the opening score, 7-0.Max Starks, replacing the ailing Marvel Smith, fared nicely against Mathias Kiwanuka, who is no Michael Strahan.

And, in honor of the sackmeister who retired after the Super Bowl and stayed that way following Osi Umenyiora's season-ending knee injury in August:

Smi le!

4:17 p.m.: Aaon Smith, missing all week due to an undisclosed family matter, started today as reported in Breaking News earlier by America's No. 1 Pro Football Writer Ed Bouchette. And, as noted below, Plex stood on the sidelines in a visor and watched the Giants offense open te game without him.

3:56 p.m.: Plex Watch! Update No. 1!

Seems the big fella -- the fellow slapped last week with (beat that, Hines Ward) $45,000 in NFL fines for comments to a head linesman and post-game comments about officiating -- is wearing out his welcome in Greater Gotham. Check out General Manager Jerry Reese's response, or lack thereof, in the New York Daily News' live blog.

And how about this fan response on the NJ.com Giants blog: Jerzeerj56 wrote, "Wow. The soap opera continues with Plaxico Burress. What are the chances this guy is wearing a Giants uniform this time next sesaon. . . . Get rid of this clown and move on with the young receivers." And, to think, just eight months ago, Plex caught the Super Bowl-winning pass.

A referee inactive: Head linesman John Schleyer called in sick. So, in a reconfigured six-man crew, back judge Bob Wagner assumes the bulk of the head linesman's responsibilities.

3:31 p.m.: Seen Column item -- The General is in da hizzy. Robert Montgomery Knight, also known as Bob Knight, is in the press box to watch today's Giants-Steelers fray. Knight, you may recall from Gerry Dulac's fine report from Super Bowl XL (a story that, alas, we cannot find in our own Post-Gazette archives), is old buds with defensive coordinator and fellow long-ago Ohio schoolboy star Dick Lebeau.

3:20 p.m.: Plex Watch! If this were local television, we'd have some nifty graphic to flash on the screen. Otherwise, the best this blog's budget can afford to do is report the news: Ex-Steelers spiking sensation and fan target Plaxico Burress will not start today.

Domenik "Hasek" Hixon has been announced as the starting receiver for Burress, being penalized by Coach Tom Coughlin for missing a neck-injury treatment Saturday morning before the Football Giants left Noo Yawk/Joisey. Supposedly, Burress will only miss the first series or so.

By the way, Plex in pregame warmups exchanged pleasantries with some old Steelers pals. He crossed the 50 on a catch from Eli Manning and met with Hines Ward, working up and down the field on short passes from Ben Roethlisberger -- who also playfully took a threatening step toward Burress. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians later came over to chat up Plex, probably to remind him to have a nice Mother's Day. . . like the one that Plex once stated as the reason he was missing at a mini-Camp Cahr.

3:04 p.m.: Inactive for today are:

The Steelers -- receiver Santonio Holmes (police blotter), suspended by Coach Mike Tomlin after his marijuana-cigar charge/summons; surgically repaired cornerback Bryant McFadden (arm), halfback Willie Parker (knee); linebacker Keyaron Fox; offensive lineman Tony Hills; starting left offensive tackle Marvel Smith (back); defensive end Orpheus Roye; and rookie Dennis Dixon is the third quarterback.

The world champeens -- place-kicker Lawrence Tynes (giving way to 114-year-old John Carney); cornerback R.W. McQuarters; running back Danny Ware; cornerback Sam Madison; linebacker Gerris Wilkinson (knee); offensive lineman Adam Koets; receiver Sinorce Moss; defensive end Jerome McDougle.

And, of course, you are inactive, if you're sitting on your duff -- or sipping on your Duff's -- reading this.

So what this all means: Max Starks will start for Smith, Mewelde Moore for Parker and Nate Washington for Holmes. Bryan Kehl will start for Wilkinson. And, on Saturday, linebacker Patrick Bailey was promoted to the active roster and special-teamer/linebacker Donovan Woods was released to make room.