Dude, if they win out then the playoffs look very real. The Denver loss was huge. Gogogogogog Philly.

I'm aware of this. The question still remains, however. I was simply curious as to which unit folks felt needed the most help. That's all.

Next week vs. the Ravens should be a bloodbath.

We have a pretty poor record of drafting DBs recently, but the unit is so terrible right now that it's gotta be the #1 priority, especially with Clark punching his ticket out of town.

Hopefully Urbik can be ready by next year.

Picked up Joey Galloway to replace Sweed, who may or may not have the hiv.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

my buddy's info from another forum

seems plausible imo
------------------
This is what needs to happen if the Steelers are to make the playoffs.

1. Steelers win last 2 (vs.Ravens, @Dolphins) possible
2. Jets lose 1 (@Colts, vs.Bengals) probable
3. Jaguars lose 1 (@Pats, @Browns) should lose in N.E.
4. Texans lose 1 (@Dolphins, vs.Pats) possible
5. either:
Broncos lose 1 (@Eagles, vs.Chiefs) probable
Ravens lose to Raiders in Oakland maybe

If all of this happens, The Steelers get a WildCard berth.
The Titans and Dolphins are no threat if the Steelers win out because the Steeler will have beaten both.

If only either KC, OAK or CLE was a win these scenarios would be a whole lot simpler and in their own hands....

I live in NE and watch most if not all of the Pats games. With the way the last few games the Pats have been having I don't like their chances vs. the Jags. Brady is hurt, no doubt about it, and their defense is pretty bad. Don't be fooled by them only letting up 10 points against the Panthers and Bills, any competent O is going to score on them and the Pats O is far from even their late '08 standards.

I wish the Pats and Steelers games were staggered so we could know going into either game what mattered. I don't see the Jags losing to the Brownies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5jNnDMfxA

Looks like the simplest way in is Cincy beating Jets and NE beating Hou + win.

Indy laying down was so weak. If Indy hadn't laid down, it would have been
- Pats win and get Steelers
- Pats lose and get Baltimore.


Would have been interesting.

I think the problem, even if NE and Cincy PLAN on playing their starters the full games in order to fight for the 3rd seed NE would lock up the 3rd seed with a win. Cincy, who plays Sunday night, would then have nothing to play for.

Isnt there a good chance Cincy would get to play the NYJ in the 1st round of the playoffs if they lose Sunday night. If thats the case I see no way Cinci doesnt basically pull an Indy and forfeit. Im pretty sure the Bungles would love the face the Jets instead of any of the other teams they could possibly play.

Bump for a Raider win and a Jet meltdown!!!

Go KC

I feel like I get a new reason to dislike NE every year. Whatever, lets go pens

/trolling

FOL

Yep...throw the Bears game in there as well and that right there is why this team is sitting at home rather than hosting a playoff game/division champs.

The biggest disappointment to me was the misfire on the state of the secondary. I thought Tomlin was a DB guy.

Gay looked decent as a nickel last year but he clearly wasn't ready this year and Carter was completely cooked.

Tomlin also gets an epic fail for the failure to improve the special teams. Actually, outside of Logan the Return Man (certainly not Logan the Gunner) the ST's got worse.

Other than that there was a bit of run-bad this season (mostly TOs, close losses, injuries to your 1st and 3rd most important defenders) and I can't complain or care too much considering the run-good up to the two SB victories.

At least Arians should be gone. Good job today entrusting Holmes to make a good decision throwing the football. Ass.

edit: Tomlin gets credit for generally good in-game decisions. He's showing tendencies to go for it at a more optimal rate and stuff like the surprise onsides indicates that he actually spends time thinking about maximizing EV.

I agree with much of this. Did anyone really think that Bryant McFadden would be that big of a loss? I really didn't, but it looks like I was wrong.

Looks like the offseason areas of need are:
1a. Defensive backfield (a good shutdown corner would be nice)

1b. Offensive line (looked good at times, looked awful more; Kemo's injury didn't help any, that's for sure)

2. Depth along the Defensive front (time to find Smith's eventual replacement, it certainly hurt not having him and he's getting old)
-- along those lines, what to do about Hampton? He's still getting it done, but he's likely going to want to get paid like that, and I don't see the front office giving up that kind of cash to an aging vet. Is this where we start to see a transition to more of a 4-3 defensive front or some hybrid of that?

3. Coaching staff change/improvement (I'm really beginning to get an uneasy feeling that Arians will be back. I'm afraid they'll say that our problems were mostly on the defensive side, and ignore Arians' screwups on the offensive side. I hope I'm wrong.

I didn't think losing McFadden would be as bad as it was because of the way Gay played in the nickel and dime last year.

1a. Clark will probably be gone. I am not sure Mundy, from what I saw from him this year in limited play, is a comfortable fit as the starting FS next year. There are a good number of interesting FS FA this coming offseason that I would be happy with such as Atogwe (Rams), Nick Collins (Packers) and Antoine Bethea (Colts). In terms of CBs there just isn't a whole lot out there that will probably end up getting big money from some team. Carlos Rogers (Skins) is probably the best FA to be while Richard Marshall is a pretty physical corner that would fit into the Steelers mold pretty well but once again these guys will get more than the Steelers will want to spend. As far as the draft goes Patrick Robinson from FSU is probably the best CB in the Draft but doubtful he will be there at 18. After him Kyle Wilson from Boise State possibly. He is a good return man in addition to corner? I dunno. Not sure that he is worth 18 overall. Trade up and take Taylor Mays would be unreal. Mays and Polamalu as the two safeties in one backfield for the next 6-7 years? Yeah.

1b. I am in the minority amongst Steelers fans in believing this O-Line may not need a whole lot of help. Essex and Colon played well above expectation (mine anyway), Starks played a pretty solid LT and Kemo/Foster did alright at the LG spot. I am not sure about Hartwig but the fact I rarely heard his name during broadcasts is always a good thing when you are an interior o-lineman.

2. I definitely could see the move to more of a "Tampa 2" style that Tomlin learned in Tampa Bay and then implemented in Minnesota. Problem is I think you need to start preparing that sort of move a year or two in advance and that wasn't done last year with the selection of Ziggy Hood (a 3-4 DE). I also do not believe there is a LB on this roster that could play the MLB position in such a system. Joey Porter would have been the perfect guy from that spot imo. Harrison and Woodley do not have the cover skills neccesary while Farrior is too slow. Timmons might be able to fill that role but he did not look good in coverage at all this past season.

3. I wouldn't be too unhappy if Arians stayed. Seeing some of the playcalling around the NFL makes Arians seem just a bit below average and I wouldn't want someone way below average coming in and screwing up all the talent on this team.

PFT reported today that LeBeau told the team he will return next year.

ESPN Radio Pittsburgh 1250 is reporting that Arians will be fired "soon."

And Bobby April is looking for a job. Come home, Bobby.

Cleveland.



























Browns.










lol@youguys.

p.s. ask your QB if your o-line needs a lot of help.

Arians is staying, I guess.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10006...#ixzz0brj7FSGP