The Steelers Loss Falls On Everyone

After the Steelers embarrassing attempt at playing the sport of football last night I posted on Twitter that Shaun Suisham should not hold ALL of the blame for the Steelers loss.  Below is my exact tweet:

Ppl cant blame suisham alone for this loss...the entire team played like garbage. #Steelers #SteelerNation
— Black n' Gold Blitz (@BnGBlitz) October 27, 2013

Shaun Suisham Can NOT Bare All the Blame For the Loss

After reading the comments I received after that tweet you would have thought that I personally insulted someone's mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, and their grandmother.  Some people on Twitter forget that everyone is entitled to their own opinion...that's a completely different can of worms that I am not going to open here today; however, the purpose for the above tweet was obvious.  Shaun Suisham missed 2 chip shots that when looking at the final score was extremely costly.  However, were those the only 2 mistakes made by the Steelers?  No.  How about the first play from scrimmage going 93 yards for a TD.  How about the blocked punt that lead to a Raiders TD.  How about Antonio Brown's drop on 3rd and 17 that would have extended a drive.  How about Antonio Brown's dropped pass that lead to an interception deep in Raiders territory?  How about having to burn a crucial timeout late in the game...whether thats on Haley or Ben Roethlisberger doesn't matter...it was costly.  How about a defense that had the Raiders pinned at their own 1 foot line and gave up a 3rd down conversion?  Do I need to continue?  Hopefully you get the picture. The final score dictated that the missed FGs were HUGE, and I'm not a Shaun Suisham apologist.  No, he deserves his slice of the "blame pie", but the entire loss can't fall on his shoulders.

No, this loss falls on everyone.  Coaching staff, offense, defense, and special teams.  Mike Tomlin continues to struggle in the time management game, and that was very evident coming down the stretch in the 4th quarter.  One question that still has yet to be answered that I hope gets asked at Tomlin's press conference tomorrow is this: When you convert the 2 point conversion to make the game 21-18 with just under 2 minutes left, why would you not kick the ball deep?  Kicking the ball deep would at least pin the Raiders back in their own end, and as they would run the ball 3 times to try and run out the clock you would at least be getting the ball in position to actually get in FG range.  That, and many other, coaching decisions had me scratching my head.

I obviously glossed over the physical errors on the field that had a hand in the Steelers dropping their 5th game of the season, but for some reason people want to pin this loss on Shaun Suisham.  Some people even want the Steelers to "make an example" of the kicker and release him.  Are you nuts?  The people who put ALL the blame (remember I give Suisham blame, but not all of it) remind me of a golfer that shoots 86 and someone asks why he shot 86 and he responds with, "Well I missed 2 par puts on 9 and 16." and doesn't say anything about the 3 double bogeys that he registered throughout the round.  The Steelers have major issues right now, and ones that aren't easily "fixable".  Oh yeah, don't forget next week the Steelers travel to see Tom Brady and the Patriots in New England.  Should be a fun week.

Steelers Offense vs. Ravens Defense - BREAKDOWN / Fantasy Fix

Heath Miller - A Must Start on your Fantasy team 

The Pittsburgh Steelers renew their Rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens (this time WITH Ben Roethlisberger at the helm) this Sunday at 4:25.  I will break this matchup up down every which way before kickoff.  Here are the top 5 storylines for the Steelers heading into Sunday's big game.  Lets do this...

- Yards are Yards...No Matter How They Come - Paint me guilty of yelling at Todd Haley for throwing so many bubble screens and WR "quick hitters".  However, the more you watch this team the more your realize that is how they make manageable down and distances.  A WR screen on 1st down for 5 yards or a run up the middle for 5.  Who can tell me the difference from a down and distance standpoint?  Exactly, you can't (primarily because I'm communicating with myself right now) because no matter what the next play is 2nd and 5.  A manageable down and distance.  Yards are yards...no matter how you slice it.

- Points are Points - Okay, it may seem redundant, but the Steelers are not the New Orleans Saints, or the Denver Broncos who score points at a ridiculous rate.  No, the Steelers are a team that is going to grind teams down and hope the defense can keep the opposition off the scoreboard.  Against the Ravens especially, the Steelers need to simply take points when they are available.  Unless you are on the goal line and inches on 4th down (and even then its tough to turn down points), you should never turn away points in a grudge match like this.  FGs could win the game.

- Make a Statement Early - The Steelers have gotten off to slow starts in every game so far this season.  That includes the win over the Jets.  If the Steelers are capable of coming out and scoring a quick TD, the entire complexity of the game could swing from that point on.  The Steelers are a team that is unsure what it can do with a lead, because they've only held ONE 2nd half lead, and that turned out to be a victory against the Jets.

- Protect the Football - Sounds like a broken record if you've read my breakdowns before.  You saw what can happen to the Steelers offense when they aren't shooting themselves in the foot (please leave the Plaxico Burress jokes aside here).  I feel this offense can be really dynamic if they get out of their own way.  If you've watched this team play the last 3 weeks and you've seen the offense slowly get into rhythm.  Slowly find their pace, and slowly become more and more effective.  None of that continues of Sunday's game against the Ravens turns into a turnover fest.

- Keep Ben Clean - The Steelers are a team that is evolving into a passing team.  Only problem with that is that you need to protect that passer.  The Steelers improved in that area after the 1st quarter in the last game, and keeping Beachum at LT might be the glue to keep this line from falling apart.  Pittsburgh needs to keep the Ravens pass rushers (Dumervil and Suggs) off of #7's back to allow him to make plays.  Will Ben take his usual 3 sacks?  Probably, but most of them will be because he is trying to make a play.  You live and die by the sword.  If you love Ben extending plays and throwing down field, you can't complain about Ben holding onto the ball...they are one in the same.

Fantasy Fix (Steelers Offense):
WR - Antonio Brown - Brown has the 2nd most receptions in the AFC this year and has quietly become the Steelers best offensive threat.  Not to mention he returns kicks, can throw the ball, and runs the ball.  Thats a versatile player that can get your quality points in alot of different ways.

TE - Heath Miller - Heath Miller has improved every game since his return, and he is a key part in the way this Steelers' offensive machine works.  Look for Heath to get his usual 5-7 receptions for around 60+ yards, but look for those redzone looks and potential TDs.  Heath has always played well against the Ravens.

K - Shaun Suisham - Lets be honest, sometimes TDs are rare in these matchups, but FGs are usually the norm.  Suisham hasn't missed a kick yet this season (10-10 and EVERYONE better knock on wood now) and has been good in kicks over 40+ yds.  He has yet to attempt a 50+ yard kick, but Suisham is worth the start in this matchup.

Miss the Steelers Defense Facing the Ravens Offense Breakdown?  Just CLICK HERE