Comments on: Steelers Week http://www.thelosscolumn.com/2008/steelers-week/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:47:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Big Ben's Motorcycle http://www.thelosscolumn.com/2008/steelers-week/comment-page-1/#comment-26409 Big Ben's Motorcycle Sun, 14 Dec 2008 03:07:05 +0000 http://www.thelosscolumn.com/?p=2076#comment-26409 also i think the ravens o-line is in much better shape right now which could be absolutely crucial. also i think the ravens o-line is in much better shape right now which could be absolutely crucial.

]]> By: Big Ben's Motorcycle http://www.thelosscolumn.com/2008/steelers-week/comment-page-1/#comment-26408 Big Ben's Motorcycle Sun, 14 Dec 2008 03:04:15 +0000 http://www.thelosscolumn.com/?p=2076#comment-26408 well yeah mcclain is the more typical workhorse afc north power back but i don't think that will work against pittsburgh - they're too fast and strong and they tackle well. what i like about rice is he's more like brian westbrook - he's got that elusive quality and works so well in space - something that the ravens will need to counteract those pittsburgh linebackers. BUT i get the sense that ball control is all that will matter tomorrow. whoever gets the turnovers wins the game. in that sense, i'm comfortable with mcclain - much more than willis mcfumbleypants. well yeah mcclain is the more typical workhorse afc north power back but i don’t think that will work against pittsburgh – they’re too fast and strong and they tackle well.

what i like about rice is he’s more like brian westbrook – he’s got that elusive quality and works so well in space – something that the ravens will need to counteract those pittsburgh linebackers.

BUT i get the sense that ball control is all that will matter tomorrow. whoever gets the turnovers wins the game. in that sense, i’m comfortable with mcclain – much more than willis mcfumbleypants.

]]> By: Andrew in Rochester http://www.thelosscolumn.com/2008/steelers-week/comment-page-1/#comment-26407 Andrew in Rochester Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:27:17 +0000 http://www.thelosscolumn.com/?p=2076#comment-26407 I like Ray Rice an awful lot...for a couple different reasons, but I've been by far more impressed with McClain. McGahee...not so much. Also, every time I look at this article all I can think is "more like 'Steelers weak'!"...ahem. I like Ray Rice an awful lot…for a couple different reasons, but I’ve been by far more impressed with McClain. McGahee…not so much.

Also, every time I look at this article all I can think is “more like ‘Steelers weak’!”…ahem.

]]> By: neal s http://www.thelosscolumn.com/2008/steelers-week/comment-page-1/#comment-26406 neal s Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:30:25 +0000 http://www.thelosscolumn.com/?p=2076#comment-26406 I think Rice is the best back on the roster for the long-term. For this week, though, I'm not sure they lose much. Unless McGahee gets like thirty carries -- that'd be insane. Nice find with that article, too. No doubt those two are the best, so much so that nobody except Taylor has even been close for some time. Taylor might have ended up being the first among equals. Such a damn shame. I think Rice is the best back on the roster for the long-term. For this week, though, I’m not sure they lose much. Unless McGahee gets like thirty carries — that’d be insane.

Nice find with that article, too. No doubt those two are the best, so much so that nobody except Taylor has even been close for some time.

Taylor might have ended up being the first among equals. Such a damn shame.

]]> By: Big Ben's Motorcycle http://www.thelosscolumn.com/2008/steelers-week/comment-page-1/#comment-26404 Big Ben's Motorcycle Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:06:46 +0000 http://www.thelosscolumn.com/?p=2076#comment-26404 super bummed that it looks like ray rice won't play. he's one of the few offensive players that i felt cameron could draw up some interesting plays for to throw pittsburgh's defense off a bit. mcclain's a beast but i just don't see the ravens running right up the gut tomorrow obviously. i read a cool article on cnn/si today that i couldn't agree with more: <i>"They may be the two best safeties in the history of the game." That is the assessment of former NFL cornerback and current Baltimore secondary coach Dennis Thurman about safeties Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu, who will be on the field for Sunday's pivotal battle between the Ravens and Steelers. Reed, a four-time Pro Bowler, ranks second in the league with five interceptions and is the top playmaker on a Ravens' defense that ranks second in the league in total defense. The seventh-year pro's two-interception performance against the Redskins last Sunday pushed the Ravens' league-best interception total to 22 on the season. Reed also added a 22-yard fumble return touchdown, his third defensive score of the season and his 11th career touchdown (five interception returns, two fumble recoveries, three blocked punts and one punt return). Polamalu, also a four-time Pro Bowler, has intercepted passes in four consecutive games and leads the league with seven on the season. In addition, Polamalu has racked up 63 tackles and registered nine pass break-ups. Though those numbers aren't eye-popping on first glance, Polamalu's presence has keyed a Steelers' defense that ranks first in nearly all of the league's major defensive categories. As the designated rover in Dick LeBeau's defense, Polamalu fills multiple roles, from blitzing to dropping in the deep middle in the Steelers' zone blitz. The six-year pro has excelled in the role, and earned the reputation as one of the league's most dynamic defenders. With the two elite players at their position playing within the same division, it is natural to make the comparison. Who better to ask than Thurman, since he has experience coaching both players -- Polamalu in college at USC and Reed for six years with the Ravens: "You can't really compare the two because they play different positions: Troy is a true strong safety and Ed is a true free safety," Thurman said. "Both could play the other position, but it would alter their effectiveness. Troy is at his best when he is near the line of scrimmage in a position to make plays as a blitzer or run defender. Ed is a ball hawk who is at his best when allowed to roam in the middle of the field. He is an effective blitzer, but he is the kind of player that you want to free up to make plays on the ball. "I can't say that one is better than the other, but both are impact players who are capable of taking over the game in their own way."</i> also there's no doubt in my mind that sean taylor would have joined this elite duo. sad thing is he almost seemed like a combination of the two. super bummed that it looks like ray rice won’t play.

he’s one of the few offensive players that i felt cameron could draw up some interesting plays for to throw pittsburgh’s defense off a bit.

mcclain’s a beast but i just don’t see the ravens running right up the gut tomorrow obviously.

i read a cool article on cnn/si today that i couldn’t agree with more:

“They may be the two best safeties in the history of the game.”

That is the assessment of former NFL cornerback and current Baltimore secondary coach Dennis Thurman about safeties Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu, who will be on the field for Sunday’s pivotal battle between the Ravens and Steelers.

Reed, a four-time Pro Bowler, ranks second in the league with five interceptions and is the top playmaker on a Ravens’ defense that ranks second in the league in total defense. The seventh-year pro’s two-interception performance against the Redskins last Sunday pushed the Ravens’ league-best interception total to 22 on the season. Reed also added a 22-yard fumble return touchdown, his third defensive score of the season and his 11th career touchdown (five interception returns, two fumble recoveries, three blocked punts and one punt return).

Polamalu, also a four-time Pro Bowler, has intercepted passes in four consecutive games and leads the league with seven on the season. In addition, Polamalu has racked up 63 tackles and registered nine pass break-ups. Though those numbers aren’t eye-popping on first glance, Polamalu’s presence has keyed a Steelers’ defense that ranks first in nearly all of the league’s major defensive categories. As the designated rover in Dick LeBeau’s defense, Polamalu fills multiple roles, from blitzing to dropping in the deep middle in the Steelers’ zone blitz. The six-year pro has excelled in the role, and earned the reputation as one of the league’s most dynamic defenders.

With the two elite players at their position playing within the same division, it is natural to make the comparison. Who better to ask than Thurman, since he has experience coaching both players — Polamalu in college at USC and Reed for six years with the Ravens:

“You can’t really compare the two because they play different positions: Troy is a true strong safety and Ed is a true free safety,” Thurman said. “Both could play the other position, but it would alter their effectiveness. Troy is at his best when he is near the line of scrimmage in a position to make plays as a blitzer or run defender. Ed is a ball hawk who is at his best when allowed to roam in the middle of the field. He is an effective blitzer, but he is the kind of player that you want to free up to make plays on the ball.

“I can’t say that one is better than the other, but both are impact players who are capable of taking over the game in their own way.”

also there’s no doubt in my mind that sean taylor would have joined this elite duo. sad thing is he almost seemed like a combination of the two.

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