Good game

**Everlong** · 12-10-2007, 02:39 PM

I'm a Pats fan who mostly visits other fans sites for a perspective on how the fan base feels. I don't post much because no matter how polite you are you're always viewed as a troll. Every once in a while I'll chime in if I have something funny to say or want to get an specific opinion.

Any way, I am active at a lot of Pats forums and I must say the two fan bases that have really impressed me this year for their passion are the Redskins and Steelers. Both sent some trolls to the sites but every fan base has some. What got me with the Skins and your fan base was the quantity of good posters who had valid opinions and more importantly stuck around to say "good game" after all was said and done. That's not always easy to do.

Some of my take aways from the game.

I had the argument with a lot of fans that I'd take BR over Palmer any day of the week. Palmer has a physical skill set second to none and I'm including Brady and Manning in that. However he's not a winner but a whiner. Always looking to blame in place of bring his team together. I think BR is a top 5 QB and Sunday didn't change my mind.

Which leads me to point two. You had a great draft getting some good young defensive talent last year. This year I have to think it's going to be the O-line that get re-tooled. That is the shakiest line I can ever remember the Steelers having.

The Steelers seem to have fixed their special teams issues. I thought that would be a huge advantage for the Pats but Pitt played them even and may have even have had a slight edge.

I think Tomlin is going to be a very good coach. The one questionable call however was the 4th and goal hand off to Ward. I was screaming at my TV knowing it was coming when he came in motion with the open backfield. If I saw it coming you know the defense did. I have to wonder if they were trying to pay the Pats back for their trick play or what the thinking was? I think that play is better suited for a 4th and 1 on the 40 where the defense cannot crowd the line quite so much and I wonder if it would be better to run it out of a passing formation vs a heavy package.

Earlier in the year our rookie first round safety Meriweather made a comment to the press that Wes Welker was one of the best slot receivers in the league. The next day BB had it up in the meeting room and asked the team "Who the f*ck is Brandon Meriweather and why does he think he knows anything about the NFL after never having played a game?"

I think Tomlin should have done the same to keep Smith quiet.

I think this next game for the Steelers is huge. Being the 3 seed means the Steelers will get either Tenn, Buffalo or Cleveland. They've beaten 2 of the 3 and Tenn isn't scary. If they lose they play Jax again in the wild card round. Not that the Steelers cannot beat the Jags in a rematch but the Jags are by far the most physical team of the four listed. I wouldn't want to play Indy or NE coming off a game with the Jags while the other team rested.

Good luck going forward I'll continue to snoop around..........even if you do hate my team like the plague.

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 12-10-2007, 02:43 PM

Welcome to SA, you seem pretty cool so we won't call you a troll

Which leads me to point two. You had a great draft getting some good young defensive talent last year. This year I have to think it's going to be the O-line that get re-tooled. That is the shakiest line I can ever remember the Steelers having.

You got that right, our OL is the worst most of us have seen in a long time so that is priority 1 in the offseason as far as we are concerned.

The Steelers seem to have fixed their special teams issues. I thought that would be a huge advantage for the Pats but Pitt played them even and may have even have had a slight edge.

Well I wouldn't quite say they are fixed, atleast we aren't fumbling every kickoff now so that's a plus but we still have a lot of work to do on the coverage units.

**floodcitygirl** · 12-10-2007, 02:55 PM

I enjoyed reading your post Everlong. Very well thought out. There are alot of fans of other teams here. Most are welcomed as long as they are respectful, as you've shown yourself to be. So welcome to SA.

BTW....I still do hate your team. If we had to lose last night my biggest regret was not seeing Brady face planted just one time. No offense. lol

**memphissteelergirl** · 12-10-2007, 03:24 PM

Nice post, Everlong! And you're right...I do hate your team like the plague...LOL

But you seem to be pretty cool, so I'll give ya a pass!

Welcome to the board!

**Everlong** · 12-10-2007, 03:32 PM

Thanks for the kind words.

I meant to also say the worst fans were the Ravens. They didn't show up all week and then they play a close game and show up to troll their moral victory.

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 12-10-2007, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by Everlong

Thanks for the kind words.

I meant to also say the worst fans were the Ravens. They didn't show up all week and then they play a close game and show up to troll their moral victory.

You'll get no argument here, the ratbirds are the worst whiners in the league and their fans follow suit like clockwork...

**GoBenGo** · 12-10-2007, 03:41 PM

Nice gesture, dude. It is very refreshing to see so much thought and effort go into sending a good, positive message. Too many times it seems the most ambitious are the most malitious.
Thanks, I know i am the better for it.

**BlackGold4vr** · 12-10-2007, 03:42 PM

Need to let it go and change over to the "hate Jags" mood. Can't change history but we can prepare for the immediate future.

**DIESELMAN** · 12-10-2007, 03:44 PM

Nice words Everlong

Its always good to talk to a knowledgeable fan no matter who they root for.

The one questionable call however was the 4th and goal hand off to Ward. I was screaming at my TV knowing it was coming when he came in motion with the open backfield. If I saw it coming you know the defense did. I have to wonder if they were trying to pay the Pats back for their trick play or what the thinking was? I think that play is better suited for a 4th and 1 on the 40 where the defense cannot crowd the line quite so much and I wonder if it would be better to run it out of a passing formation vs a heavy package.

You weren't the only one screaming

We had already gotten a couple of crucial 4th and shorts with Dookie running to get them, we did a pass play on 3rd from the 2...Why? Arians play calling. Arians questionable play calling has already bit us hard in past games, why should this one be any different.

Props to you for coming on here and showing some class.

**SteelerFan87** · 12-10-2007, 04:40 PM

Welcome to SA Everlong!

Are you a member over at PatriotsPlanet?

I agree with most of what you said, and I thank you for a very classy post. You are a credit to your fanbase, and your post was very refreshing and goes against the stereotype of Pats fans.

I totally agree that we need to rebuild our line, but I'm worried, because we can't afford to have to wait a year or 2 for young linemen to develop.
The only things I disagree with you on, where our special teams (they were better, but certainly not totally fixed) and the handling of Smith. Belichick likes to break his rookies, it seems. Tomlin doesn't, and I agree with his style.

As you can see, I'm certainly no fan of the Pats, but I am a fan of classy posters, so I hope you'll stick around.