Pittsburgh Steelers - Bye Week News & Notes



Will the Eagles Gm Be The 1st Time We See
Troy and Ryan Clark Together This Year?


As the Steelers coast into the bye week on a 1-2 record, its time to talk about some of the story lines that are surrounding the team, and how they might impact the season from this point on.

- Injuries are Key - There is good news and bad news with the injury report that was released after the Steelers held 2 practices this week before sending the players home.  James Harrison went through a full practice and the next day wasn't suited up due to ill affects from the surgically "cleaned out" knee that just won't heal as originally thought.  People (myself included) were optimistic that Harrison would be ready after the bye week, but after his knee poorly responding, it is looking like there is no way he will be ready for Philly, and certainly not the Titans on Thursday Night 4 days after the Eagles game.  Troy Polamalu went through both practices without any ill effects, so it looks as if he will be returning to the lineup to face the Eagles.  Strange to think, but if Troy plays vs the Eagles, it will be the first game this season that he and Ryan Clark roam the secondary together.  The Wild Card of this bunch is Rashard Mendenhall.  He has been practicing all season, but when will the coaching staff pull the trigger on their loaded gun?  My gut instinct tells me that Rashard will be dressed and getting limited carries vs Philly next week.

- Running the Rock - Reporters went nuts on Steelers Offensive Coordinator, Todd Haley, the other day with questions regarding the running game.  Why so little yardage, why so little production, is Mendenhall the answer?  Haley stated that he felt the Steelers were efficient when running the ball vs the Raiders, but the game plan was to throw the ball to move the chains.  I believe that when Rashard Mendenhall returns it will be a welcome site for the running game.  Barring that the knee injury hurts his mobility and/or elusiveness, he is so much more explosive than Redman or Dwyer.  I like Redman and Dwyer, but they don't have the ability that Mendenhall has at the RB position.  Just like numerous teams before the Steelers, you don't have to have a dominant running game to win, but you do have to have a running game (which the Steelers don't really have at this point).

- 2 Games in 4 Days Ahead - If you look at the schedule like I do, you've realized that the Steelers play at home at 1pm, and then have to travel to Nashville to play the Titans on that Thursday.  It will be a great chance for the Steelers to climb out of the hole they have dug themselves in, but at the same point, it could be a defining moment of the season.  Its a rough road to hoe, but at the same time if you can get a win on a Thursday Night game you almost get a short bye week as you've already played that week.  Lets hope the Steelers are up for the challenge and can get 2 Wins next week.

- Road Warriors...Think Again - Last weekend I was bored at home while the kiddos were napping.  I was sick of hearing about the Patriots, Ravens, and Packers so I looked on my DVR and found the 2005 "America's Game".  As I started watching it I realized there are really no similarities between that '05 Championship team and this '12 team.  One of the biggest contrasts is the simple fact that the '05 team was a team that could take their show on the road and not miss a beat.  Obviously, being the first team in NFL history to win the Superbowl as a #6 seed and win every game on the road.  They won a total of 9 road games that year.  The past few years haven't been good for the Steelers on the road, and this year is no different.  Already 0-2 on the road.  I'm not saying the Steelers are going to lose all of their road games, but someone once told me that if you take care of business at home (8 Wins) and win half of your games on the road (4 Wins) you'll finish 12-4.  No one would complain about that, but with road games against the Titans, Bengals, Giants, Browns, Ravens, and Cowboys it will be easier said than done.  The Steelers have a tough schedule from here, and losing to a team like the Raiders (probably not a playoff team) could really hurt their chances in the AFC Playoff picture down the road.

Enjoy the Bye week everyone, and be sure to check back early and often for the best Pittsburgh Sports news on the web!