May 5, 2009
By Donald Starver
Well, the Larry Foote saga finally came to an end with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers released him yesterday.
This comes as no surprise to fans. ESPN mistakenly reported that the Steelers had released him last week. They hadn’t. However, Foote had asked to for an opportunity to play for a team that would allow him to be more than a two down linebacker. Unspoken in his request was probably also a desire to get one final big payday before his... Read Full Story
How to the Steelers and Ravens linebackers compare:
“Both teams are pretty much built around their linebackers. The linebackers are the ones that are going to make all the plays. While the defensive linemen do all the dirty work the inside linebackers and outside linebackers will come in on the blitzes.”
Where do you fit in the Steelers linebacking core and what do you have to do for the defense to succeed:
“My role is to put pressure on the quarterback. Going in and getting... Read Full Story
How to the Steelers and Ravens linebackers compare:
“Both teams are pretty much built around their linebackers. The linebackers are the ones that are going to make all the plays. While the defensive linemen do all the dirty work the inside linebackers and outside linebackers will come in on the blitzes.”
Where do you fit in the Steelers linebacking core and what do you have to do for the defense to succeed:
“My role is to put pressure on the quarterback. Going in and getting... Read Full Story
March 31, 2009
By Donald Starver
Note: This is part 4 in a series. If you haven’t already read the previous chapters, please click the appropriate link below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
In part 3 of our series on the 3-4 defense and how it affects the Steelers’ draft, we talked about the defensive end. Now it’s time to break down the glamor position on any 3-4 defense; the linebackers.
The 4 in the title “3-4 defense” represents the fact that there are 4 linebackers in a 3-4... Read Full Story
As our regular readers know, we have been pretty hard on Ike Taylor at times. It’s not that we don’t like Ike. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. We love Ike. When T.O., or Randy Moss, or Plax are in town, there is not a cornerback that we’d rather have covering them than Ike Taylor.
Unfortunately, when there is an easy interception to be had, there is nobody we’d like attempting to catch it less than Ike Taylor. Let’s face it, Ike has hands of stone. I know a guy... Read Full Story
The Super Bowl MVP should be an easy call. Take a look at the quarterbacks from both teams, close your eyes and choose one. And you’ll likely be right: of the 43 players who have won, or shared, an MVP trophy, 22 have been quarterbacks. But we’re not going to play it safe. We like when an offbeat player wins the award (in some cases never to be heard from again). Unlikely MVPs include Dallas’ Larry Brown , Green Bay’s Desmond Howard and Tampa Bay’s Dexter Jackson . None of these players... Read Full Story
The Steelers know a key to making sure they are playing a week from Sunday in the AFC Title game is to make sure that Philip Rivers does not have a happy Sunday in the Steel City. Rivers, a QB that has had great success against a number of teams this season, didn’t have a good game against the Steelers the first time around back on November 16th.
The Pro Bowl QB was just 15-for-26 for 159 yards with two intercpetions, no touchdowns and a QB rating of just 43.6. It was a game he’d like to... Read Full Story
Note: Before taking this quiz, you may want to read our Steelers-Redskins Review found here .
Okay, we know that you watched the game, but now it’s time to find out if you REALLY watched the game. Here is this week’s post-game quiz. Good luck.
1. Who recovered Andre Frazier’s blocked punt?
A. Deshea Townsend
B. Lawrence Timmons
C. Mewelde Moore
D. William Gay
2. What is backup quarterback Byron Leftwich’s jersey number?
A. 4
B. 8
C. 12
D. 13
3. What was Ben... Read Full Story
Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley was in a slump near the end of the season, going the final four games during the regular season without registering a sack. Woodley had 11.5 sacks in his first 12 games before suddenly not beng able to get one on opposing QB’s.
Consider that slump over.
Woodley showed up last Sunday just when the Steelers needed him, as he recorded five tackles and two sacks of Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. Here’s hoping Joe Flacco will feel that same type of pain... Read Full Story
It may have taken awhile, but the Pittsburgh Steelers big-play defense finally seemed to be back in form Sunday afternoon in Heinz Field. After taking hits for allowing two fourth quarter comebacks in weeks two and three this season, the Steelers D was back to form Sunday, stopping the Vikings with a pair of huge fourth quarter plays in a 27-17 win to move to 5-2.
“It’s going to help our defense build a lot more confidence,” inside linebacker James Farrior said. “Hopefully, we can get... Read Full Story
