TEEMONT
09-23-2007, 11:19 PM
Since a certain blogger feels we need more of a journalistic approach at this site, I figured I would go the cheap and easy route and try to grade the positions, with reasons why I think they got that grade.
Here goes.
Offense
Quarterbacks - B
Ben is looking like Ben of the Super Bowl year. I know that no one wants to hear this, but he is managing games expertly. He is making the smart throws and making up for the poor pass blocking by escaping the pocket and keeping plays alive. The only reason he doesn't get an A from me is for two reasons: 1] The fumble, which was mostly the lines fault, but Ben needs to cover it up. 2] Only 160 yards, I personally would like to see him avg. about 220 a game, hopefully that is down the line. Overall Ben is looking good though, but he isn't the reason we won today, he is a reason we didn't lose though.
Batch looked awesome on that kneel down at the end.
Running Backs - A
What can you say about Willie that hasn't been said? The man is doing what a lot of people said he couldn't do and continues to rack up 20+ carries a game. He is also playing consistent football. Willie didn't break anything over 23 yards today, and managed to still have 5.5 YPC avg. I would like to see him catch more than one ball, but our backs have never been huge in the reception dept. so I am willing to forgive him in that area. Najeh is proving a lot of people wrong and is looking like a good change of pace back. He has been running hard, although I would still like to see him get lower and churn his legs. His upright running style is very conducive to his body type, but he running hard and breaking tackles. He didn't catch any balls today, which is I love to see him do, because he runs a great screen.
Receivers - B-
Hines got banged up, on back to back plays, but he didn't seem to mind. Most of our receptions were by the TE's, but the fact that these guys were able to come back to the ball for Ben when he was scrambling force me to give them at least a B-.
Tight Ends - A+
What is there to say other than AWESOME!!! Heath Miller led the team in receptions, and Jerame Tuman caught his first TD pass of the season. All in all it was a good day for those of us who have predicting that the Steelers would use the TE more, since we drafted Mark Bruener.
Offensive Line - C
I know some of these guys are banged up and they probably aren't used to playing with each other yet, but their pass protection is hideous. Ben is a QB who likes to see all of his reads, so he holds the ball for an extra second. That is going to hurt any O-line's sack numbers. I see Ben scrambling too much (which isn't always a bad thing, but there are times I get nervous)when there are only 4 rushers. I think these weak D's are good tune-ups, but they need to be ready for the better D's in the league pretty soon.
The run blocking was, once again, terrific. Even with Faneca nursing a hurt shoulder, he is still elite. Colon looked mean, and I saw Marvel throw some nice blocks. Mahan isn't quite the liability that people were making him out to be, he plays a solid game, although he is no Hartings or Dawson. Mahan IMO is probably the best pass blocker of the middle 3.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line - B+
I really think we have one of the nest defensive lines from top to bottom, and Big Hamp is the top. He looked like his normal huge gap-pluggin self today, not much else to say. I had trouble watching the other guys, but I saw Keisel all over the place today, which is always a good thing. I think I actually saw Nick Eason make a tackle today, although it was about 3 yards downfield. Aaron Smith was solid with 5 tackles.
Linebackers - B
Solid, but not spectacular. Harrison is filling in quite nicely for Joey Porter so far, and we got to see another body-slam out of him today, it went nicely with his 4 tackles. The rest of the LB's just played mediocre, I know it's hard to rack up tackles when you are only on the field for something like 57 plays (18 of which were incomplete passes) but I expect more out of this group.
Secondary - B+
Great game. McFadden took one to the house, and they were able to keep Smith from getting into any kind of grove, which I was worried about before the game. This young secondary is is improving every game. Troy played a great game, and Anthony Smith just plays balls out. It's a shame we can't have 3 starting safeties.
Special Teams - A+
Our punter ****in recovered an onsides kick! We took a kick-off back for a TD, and Jeff Reed still hasn't missed. Nuff Said!
Tell me what you guys think...agree or disagree. First time I have ever done anything like this, so anything you think I can do to improve is welcome.
Here goes.
Offense
Quarterbacks - B
Ben is looking like Ben of the Super Bowl year. I know that no one wants to hear this, but he is managing games expertly. He is making the smart throws and making up for the poor pass blocking by escaping the pocket and keeping plays alive. The only reason he doesn't get an A from me is for two reasons: 1] The fumble, which was mostly the lines fault, but Ben needs to cover it up. 2] Only 160 yards, I personally would like to see him avg. about 220 a game, hopefully that is down the line. Overall Ben is looking good though, but he isn't the reason we won today, he is a reason we didn't lose though.
Batch looked awesome on that kneel down at the end.
Running Backs - A
What can you say about Willie that hasn't been said? The man is doing what a lot of people said he couldn't do and continues to rack up 20+ carries a game. He is also playing consistent football. Willie didn't break anything over 23 yards today, and managed to still have 5.5 YPC avg. I would like to see him catch more than one ball, but our backs have never been huge in the reception dept. so I am willing to forgive him in that area. Najeh is proving a lot of people wrong and is looking like a good change of pace back. He has been running hard, although I would still like to see him get lower and churn his legs. His upright running style is very conducive to his body type, but he running hard and breaking tackles. He didn't catch any balls today, which is I love to see him do, because he runs a great screen.
Receivers - B-
Hines got banged up, on back to back plays, but he didn't seem to mind. Most of our receptions were by the TE's, but the fact that these guys were able to come back to the ball for Ben when he was scrambling force me to give them at least a B-.
Tight Ends - A+
What is there to say other than AWESOME!!! Heath Miller led the team in receptions, and Jerame Tuman caught his first TD pass of the season. All in all it was a good day for those of us who have predicting that the Steelers would use the TE more, since we drafted Mark Bruener.
Offensive Line - C
I know some of these guys are banged up and they probably aren't used to playing with each other yet, but their pass protection is hideous. Ben is a QB who likes to see all of his reads, so he holds the ball for an extra second. That is going to hurt any O-line's sack numbers. I see Ben scrambling too much (which isn't always a bad thing, but there are times I get nervous)when there are only 4 rushers. I think these weak D's are good tune-ups, but they need to be ready for the better D's in the league pretty soon.
The run blocking was, once again, terrific. Even with Faneca nursing a hurt shoulder, he is still elite. Colon looked mean, and I saw Marvel throw some nice blocks. Mahan isn't quite the liability that people were making him out to be, he plays a solid game, although he is no Hartings or Dawson. Mahan IMO is probably the best pass blocker of the middle 3.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line - B+
I really think we have one of the nest defensive lines from top to bottom, and Big Hamp is the top. He looked like his normal huge gap-pluggin self today, not much else to say. I had trouble watching the other guys, but I saw Keisel all over the place today, which is always a good thing. I think I actually saw Nick Eason make a tackle today, although it was about 3 yards downfield. Aaron Smith was solid with 5 tackles.
Linebackers - B
Solid, but not spectacular. Harrison is filling in quite nicely for Joey Porter so far, and we got to see another body-slam out of him today, it went nicely with his 4 tackles. The rest of the LB's just played mediocre, I know it's hard to rack up tackles when you are only on the field for something like 57 plays (18 of which were incomplete passes) but I expect more out of this group.
Secondary - B+
Great game. McFadden took one to the house, and they were able to keep Smith from getting into any kind of grove, which I was worried about before the game. This young secondary is is improving every game. Troy played a great game, and Anthony Smith just plays balls out. It's a shame we can't have 3 starting safeties.
Special Teams - A+
Our punter ****in recovered an onsides kick! We took a kick-off back for a TD, and Jeff Reed still hasn't missed. Nuff Said!
Tell me what you guys think...agree or disagree. First time I have ever done anything like this, so anything you think I can do to improve is welcome.