THE PITTSBURGH Sports CHATTER

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Yeah, the RB situation is really getting muddled....

All 3 backups have made their case to make the team, although not much from Haynes....

Gonna be tough to cut either Brown or Parker, 'cause you know they'll be snatched up by someone....

[POJO_Risin]

It will be interesting...

every year it seems Pittsburgh uncovers somebody...but at some point...after watching these "somebody's" die a miserable death with someone else...you have to give credit to Pittsburgh's philosophy...

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Final cuts... Dante Brown is the odd one out at RB....

Steelers Finalize Roster for 2004 Season, Release 10

The Steelers put the finishing touches on their final roster entering the 2004 season by releasing 10 players to reach the NFL-mandated 53-player limit.


Among the players released were four veterans, two one-year players and four rookies. Released were six-year veteran linebacker Adrian Ross, five-year nose tackle Kendrick Clancy, second-year running Dante Brown and second-year safety Russell Stuvaints; one-year placekicker Rob Bironas and one-year fullback J.T. Wall; and rookie offensive lineman Drew Caylor, offensive tackle Bo Lacy, linebacker Dedrick Roper, defensive end Eric Taylor.


Following is a positional breakdown of the Steelers’ final roster: quarterbacks (3), running backs (5), wide receivers (5), tight ends (4), offensive line (9), defensive line (6), linebackers (8), defensive backs (10), and specialists (3). Five rookies—four draft picks (out of eight) and one free agent—made the final roster.


The team will be able to sign eight players to their 2004 practice squad Monday, Sept. 6. The Steelers open the 2004 season at home this Sunday against AFC-rival Oakland Raiders at Heinz Field. Kickoff is 1 p.m. and is being broadcast by CBS’ top game crew of Jim Nantz, Phil Simms and Bonnie Bernstein.

[POJO_Risin]

Wow...to bad for Brown...but fucking Parker came out of nowhere...

and no press for him here in Raleigh either...

I do like their RB corp though...Parker is interesting...speed and surprising power in a N/S running game...

[Va Beach VH Fan]

I think they can say goodbye to Brown....

They were lucky to get him back after a good preseason LAST year....

He's gone this time....

[POJO_Risin]

Oh...no doubt...I'm sure there are some sharks in Miami...just looking for guys like Brown...

[POJO_Risin]

I like Hayes...and Parker is interesting...good backups...gotta love how Pittsburgh smells out these good young backs..

[SRK]

Hey is everyone ready for the big game tomorrow? The ravens are unusually silent as far as the trash talk .Maybe that whippin the clowns gave them ,kinda woke them up.......yea to the fact that they suck and better keep their mouths shut because blitzburgh is back baby!!!!

HERE WE GO STEELERS !!! HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!

[Va Beach VH Fan]

The running game is the key, on both sides of the ball...

For the Ravens, that's obvious... If Lewis has a good game, they'll have a good chance to win....

But for P-Burgh, I think it's not only Duce, but Kreider.... If he can do the good blocking job he usually does on Ray Lewis, that should spring some holes for Duce....

Also, watch for Plaxico.... I think they might take advantage of the new rules to either get more penalties against the overly-aggressive Chris McCalister and/or get Plax loose for some big gains....

I see the Steelers winning this one (big surprise huh)....

Lewis rarely has had much success against them, and I don't see it starting today....

Steelers 24, Ravens 16.....

[Lou]

You know I'm watching this Pixburgh game (since basically the Stillers are the AFC game here every week) and I can't believe how bad Tommy Maddox really is. I guess that's why Bill Cowher continues to run the ball down 13-0 in the 3rd quarter, because his QB sucks.

[Lou]

And another thing, Duce Staley was really good in his role with the Eagles. He is a master at getting the really crucial yardage. But he's not an every down back and too bad Stillers management doesn't realize that. He's also not worth $4M a year or whatever he's making.

[Lou]

OK, now down 20-0 midway through the 3rd quarter, Cowher puts in Roethlisberger and they proceed to....run the ball 5 straight times and punt. That's some brilliant coaching there. Not even ONE pass attempt, down 20-0, with a new QB. What was the point of putting the new QB in?

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Lou, do you really try to be this clueless ???

Jesus Christ, Maddox nearly got his elbow yanked out of his socket... It wasn't like Cowher "put" Roeth in there, it was out of necessity....

BTW, Maddox is out a minimum of 6 weeks... I'd bet it's at least 8 weeks, they're saying the Docs don't even want him throwing for 6 weeks....

But back to Roeth...

You can't question the play calling, at least when Roeth first got in there, you had to give him a few plays to get his feet wet....

I bet he does a respectable job Sunday in Miami.....

Now back to the rest of that fiasco yesterday....

Two main bitches for me, the play calling and the defense....

Anyone who knows football (even Lou) knows that Baltimore is an overly-agressive defense.... They're going to be blitzing, or close to it, nearly every play....

So, you've got to realize that right off of the bat, combat that agressiveness, and call plays that burn them for playing that way !!!

What plays do that (I know you're asking that question Lou) ?? I'd be happy to oblige....

I saw one screen pass, ONE FUCKING SCREEN PASS....

Where were the quick slants ???

Where were the pitchouts ???

Where were the draws ???

And on the other side of the ball...

Ya know, for as much press as this linebacking corps gets, you'd think they could tackle for a shit, but I guess I'm mistaken....

Arm tackle, another arm tackle, yet another arm tackle....

So this, much earlier than expected, is the coronation for Big Ben.... Even considering the consequences, I'm really looking forward to seeing him these next several weeks.....

[Lou]

Yeah I'm clueless, whatever.

You know if you're down 20-0 in the 3rd quarter and you have to bring a new QB in, do you want to walk on eggshells with your QB or do you want to try to get back in the game? No time to dick around and try to "break him in"--you gotta start passing and throwing the kid into the fire. He couldn't do any WORSE than Maddox, that's for sure.

That being said that was a nice pass to Ward in the end zone, and Stillers fans should be very thankful Tommy Maddox got hurt, to get the kid experience right now so he'll be better prepped for next year when he takes over as the full-time starter.

Anyway I'm still going with a 5-11 record for the Stillers. Struggled at home to beat a bad Oakland team and got beat pretty good when they had to play a decent team.

[POJO_Risin]

Well...I actually agree with Mr. Clueless...

fuck getting his feet wet...

that being said...

I agree with Va...

jesus...hell is freezing over...

in all his assessments with how they handled the Baltimore defense...

I do agree that Staley isn't an everydown back...but they certainly don't have another option...and there are plenty of other teams with much...much less...

5-11? No fucking way...although if they play like they did yesterday...against that anemic offense...well...

they may not even win 5...

Philly looks damn ass good...I'll give you that...

TO has changed that team...completely...if they aren't the favorite...well...I don't know who is...