Steelers - 24 / CHARGERS - 34 - QUICK HITTERS

Poor O-Line Play - Just ONE of the Many Things
That Angered Me On Sunday...

Lets cut right to the chase, shall we?  The Steelers flat out SUCKED against the Chargers yesterday, and anyone that doesn't think so didn't watch the football game.  There were alot of things that left me scratching my head, and there are alot of things that are sweeping through SteelerNation that I completely disagree with...so sit back and read my thoughts and opinions on the Steelers' loss to the San Diego Chargers.

- Coaching Questions - Mike Tomlin made some questionable coaching decisions.  SteelerNation was up in arms about him going for the first down at the 50 yard line.  I don't question that call because if they get that extra yard, no one is talking about it.  Some are questioning him not going for the 2pt conversion at one point in the game, and they aren't happy about the "we couldn't stop them" answer.  Its the truth...not that I support the decision, but the Steelers weren't stopping them which made the 2 pointer irrelevant.  I DO have a problem with the Steelers not even putting a full back in the backfield to help create space for Isaac Redman on that 4th and 1.  The offensive play calling was by far some of the worst that we've seen from Todd Haley.  The plays they were calling weren't working, and that isn't the main problem, but the lack of being able to figure out / diagnose what needs to be done is an issue that should have been addressed long before halftime.  The coaching staff needs to improve if this team is going to make the playoffs.

- Offensive Line Disappeared - What happened to the protection Charlie Batch got the past 2 weeks?  Wherever it was, the Steelers lose it vs the Chargers.  Some members of SteelerNation were yelling for Charlie Batch during the game.  Are you kidding me?!  Look at how many times Ben escaped pressure and was able to at least make a play (sometimes with his legs).  If that is Charlie Batch, he is a sitting duck.  The offensive line will have to develop into a new group as it looks like the Steelers will be w/o LG Willie Colon for the rest of the regular season at least.  If you ask me, the Steelers would be smart to insert their #1 draft pick David DeCastro at LG, keeping Maurkice Pouncey at Center.  That is the best way to keep the unit together as best as they can.  Nonetheless, if something doesn't change the Steelers won't be able to get much done on offense if the OLine plays that poorly again.

- Miss Ike Taylor Yet? - You don't think the Steelers miss Ike Taylor?  Just watch what the Chargers did to the Nickel back Curtis Brown on what seemed like every 3rd down.  They abused Brown and at times, picked on Cortez Allen as well.  Either way, the Steelers attempt at pressure left the back half of the secondary on an island...which meant nightmares for the Steelers CBs.  I think both Brown and Allen can bounce back from their poor performance, but Ike Taylor will be severely missed until his return.

- NFL Handcuffing Officials From Making Gut Calls - The play that has a big '?' around it is the "backwards pass" that led to the 2nd SD touchdown in 12 seconds.  I don't blame the refs, but the NFL has handcuffed the boys in stripes so much that it seems they are scared to blow the whistle.  Watch the ref's reaction when the Chargers jump on the ball.  He looks around as if to see if someone blew the whistle, and slowly raises his hands showing "Touchdown".  He didn't trust the call, but he did what the NFL tells him to do.  Call it sour grapes, but I hate the fact that the NFL has taken the whistle out of the refs mouths if they KNOW they made the correct call.

- Big Ben 1 yd shy of Rushing Leader = BAD - I talked about the offensive line struggling to open up running lanes for the Steelers RBs, and it just goes to show you how bad it was when you see that Ben Roethlisberger was 2nd on the day in total rushing yards, only 1 shy of being the Steelers leading passer and runner.  To me, that is pathetic on so many levels. 

- Big Ben Playing in 4th Qtr Will Help Next Week - Alot of media members were bashing Mike Tomlin for keeping Ben Roethlisberger in the game much longer than anyone expected him after the game seemed out of hand.  I, however, disagree 100% with that sentiment.  You could obviously see the rust on Big Ben, and even though he made some great throws and plays, the reps were a great way to get him re-acclimated with game speed, etc.  I think that Big Ben playing in the 4th quarter will only help the team next week when they travel to Dallas and face the Cowboys.

- Defense Went Blitzburgh On Chargers and got TORCHED - In my NFL Breakdown of the Steelers' Defense vs the Chargers Offense I talked about how the Steelers D might turn into "Blitzburgh" on Sunday.  That happened as the Steelers blitzed more than I can remember this season.  However, when they blitzed Phillip Rivers torched them in the passing game.  When the Steelers blitzed they left their DBs on a island, and as I said earlier...that didn't end well for the black n' gold.  Again, Dick Lebeau needs to STICK WITH WHAT WORKS, and blitzing corners and safeties isn't what got the D to #1 in the NFL.

- WHY NO PLAXICO? - There was a Plaxico Burress sighting at Heinz Field this Sunday.  Burress caught a huge 3rd down conversion in the first half (their only first down until the last drive in the half) and then wasn't seen again in the 2nd half.  I'm not sure why the Steelers would take "garbage time" to see what the big WR has left in the tank.  Burress' catch over the middle shows that he still has some ability that can help the Steelers and their WR corps.  I was shocked when the Steelers dressed 5 WRs, but was glad to see Burress might get a shot...too bad it wasn't more than 2 targets with 1 catch.