Jottings #2: The Brownies and Other Events

Well, the Steelers issued their annual butt whuppin' to everyone's favorite butt ugly jersey wearing team in the league. I guess if they dress in brown, are called the Browns well they must be destined to play like... oh, you know the rest. Funny thing is, it's not the Steelers who have been taking up my time this week. Who is occupying my time are of course Bill "I'm watching you" Belichick and his Faketriots. The team that stood in the way of two other Steelers Super Bowl runs may have had just a little help from a little birdie... with a camera. I'll get to that in a bit but since I'm supposed to be writing about the Steelers, let's get to that. Here we go.

• Charlie Frye, we hardly knew ye. I guess we won't have his butt to kick around any longer. After getting benched in the first half of the first game of the season, the Brownies sent him off to Seattle for a 6th round pick. Wow, now that's backing your QB during the tough times, huh? This franchise is beyond sad; it's just down right pathetic at this point. If the entire management and coaching staff isn't terminated in the first week after their season is done I'd be amazed. Worst thing for them, they don't even get rewarded for stinking up the league, they have already traded their first round pick to Dallas next year. Nice work guys.
• On the opposite end of the QB spectrum is Ben Roethlisberger and his four TD day. Tell me he isn't just a bit happy with the new offense. Who knows how good his stats would have looked if his receivers didn't have a small case of the dropsies. Santonio Holmes could have given him a five TD day.
• Through the pre-season I wasn't really sure what to make of Najeh Davenport. I was hearing nothing but good things from camp but it wasn't showing up in the games. That was, until last week. Najeh ran with an attitude and in some cases desperation and showed us all that the Steelers are fine with their depth at the RB position.
• I hate talking fantasy football in the Jottings but as it relates to the Steelers, I'm glad I have both Ben and Holmes on my roster this season. The way Santonio had to wait for the pass to get to him behind the secondary for an easy score is a testament to his speed. Ben's just going to have to learn to get the ball out a little sooner. Regardless, that speed is going to give them a wide margin for error on the deep passes, a margin Ben has never had.
• I currently have the fantastic photo of Ward catching his TD pass on the backdrop of this computer. If you can, look for it around the internet, you'll know it when you see it. The thing about it is these catches are more routine for Ward than for any receiver I can remember outside of Cris Carter. Sometimes we don't realize how lucky we are until it's too late. I still remember some folks not caring whether or not the team re-signed him a couple of years ago. Amazing.
• Speaking of being re-signed, Alan Faneca had better start looking like the All Pro guard he is if he wants to collect that kind of money in the off season. Granted, he didn't play badly but he was beaten a few times too many against a Browns team that has difficulty getting past tackling dummies. Then again, when spare parts like Leonard Davis and Derrick Dockery are able to over collect, I'm not too worried for Alan.
• I know it's only been one game but... how da y'all like my Gopher Matt Speath now?! He is being used just as he should, as an underneath option and a red zone target. Ben's had tall targets before but this one can actually hold on to the ball. And yes, I am knocking on wood while I'm writing this.
• One game down, many punts downed deep. Dan Sepulveda is looking like the weapon many thought he would be. I just love how that ball dies within the five and how huge it becomes. Odds are great that there will not only be a change of possession soon after (many 3 and outs when you're put deep) but the field position when you get the ball back will often be on the good side of the 50.
• Aaron Smith had a great game last week and really helps both Clark Haggans and LaMarr Woodley get to the QB. That is, if he doesn't get their first. Teams that have issues at RT had better consider leaving a TE in to help. In other words, one less player to cover freeing up one more defender in pass defense or to blitz. The Aaron Smith domino effect isn't easy to see until you're an offensive coordinator trying to figure out how to block on the strong side. It also makes blitzing off the weak side sooooo much easier.
• Dick Lebeau went back to the four-man rush the Steelers have used in the past but only in this case, he got it right. Under Tim Lewis, the Steelers used to employ a four-man line but used OLBs as their ends thereby allowing the OTs a much easier job as they could use their huge size advantage and stuff any pass rush. Lebeau, smart once again, used his best big talent and lined up Keisel and Smith at DE and Hampton and Hoke at DT. It doesn't look tough to do, using your biggest and best defensive lineman to act as lineman but for some reason; the Steelers never did that in the past. The "big nickel" is yet another package that teams will have to account for each week.
• You have to notice, when James Harrison hits a QB, he stays hit. No glancing blows there.
• Ike Taylor is looking great so far. How do I know considering that we didn't really see him much last weekend? That's how you know. QBs won't throw in his direction. Besides, he picked up his first career sack last week as well. I would really hate to be an O-coordinator trying to figure out who Lebeau's bringing on each play unless I had Belichick technology. We'll get to that soon enough. The impressive thing for me was that each of the team's six sacks came from a different player. Deal with that, offenses.
• Laurence Timmons update: He downed two punts on special teams and made a few hits out there. Not saying it's good or bad but the Steelers received more from Woodley (looked good in some different packages), Speath (TD), Sepulveda (great day punting) and Gay (fumble recovery). At least he outperformed Ryan McBean and Dallas Clark but they have an excuse, they weren't given a huge bonus making it impossible for the team to cut them.
• Carey Davis started and had a Davis type of game. FB, RB, special teams, he did 'em all again. Handy guy to have, I guess he just needed to find his niche in this league.
• Willie Reid and Ricardo Colclough were both inactive last week. Considering how many teams are starved for help at corner (did you see that Cowboys-Giants game?), I can't believe that the Steelers can't get something in return for Rico. Then again, what is a sixth round pick really worth these days compared to depth at corner. Maybe someone will get desperate and offer a day one pick. As for Reid, he's way too good of a WR prospect right now to give up on just because he put a few balls on the ground in pre season. Alan Rossum didn't do much but he did hold on to the ball.
• The Steelers look set at the FS position for the foreseeable future. Anthony Smith has the potential to be a good one but his problem is that Ryan Clark already is. No wonder the 'Skins' Sean Taylor was so upset when they let him go (in favor of Adam Archuletta? Dumb), he made Taylor look better. In the Steelers scheme he is a perfect compliment to Troy Polamalu and his crazed play. Just watch for him in games in the future, what you'll see is a player in and around almost every play and most importantly for a free safety, he'll be keeping them in front of him.
• Kudos to Jeff Reed. It's so much easier to cover kickoffs when they are in the end zone. Also, thanks to the Browns for allowing the Steelers so many opportunities to practice them.
• OK, let's get to the Patriots issue. Let's do it before the national media sweeps it under the rug for the NFL.
  • This is a very serious issue make no mistake. Those who downplay it are either trying to cover for the Pats or just don't understand.
  • Imagine being a batter in baseball and knowing every time what pitch was coming and where it was going to cross the plate.
  • Imagine taking tests in school and having strong hints to every answer on the test.
  • Imagine playing offense and knowing what the defense was going to do and where their players would be. That's the advantage the Patriots stole from the rest of the NFL. Now, think this might be serious?
  • Here's what it affects: Everything the Patriots have done under the Bill Belichick regime. It puts in doubt not only the Super Bowl trophies but all regular season achievements as well. The Steelers and the Colts have the most to complain about, they would probably be fighting it out for "team of the decade" at this point. I think at least one title was taken from each team. Also, remember that record winning streak the Pats had? Put a big ol' asterisk right next to that as well. In all, in my mind and many others as well, it puts an asterisk next to everything this team and all of its coaches and players have done.
  • Here's what was done: Fines for Belichick and the Patriots equaling $750,000. No big deal. The forfeiting of either a first round pick (if/when the Pats make the playoffs) or a second and third. Big deal again. The team will be drafting lower than most teams and it still doesn't come close in making up for the advantage the Pats enjoyed for nearly a decade. That's it, nothing else.
  • Here's what should be done: Suspend Belichick indefinitely. Only when a full fact finding investigation is complete would he be eligible for reinstatement. The same goes for any person called in for questioning in the matter who refuses to cooperate. After the investigation is complete, time frames of the suspensions would be re-evaluated. If this was as widespread as many and I believe, Belichick's suspension will be a lifetime ban. As for draft choices, the Patriots don't draft again until this is resolved. This would encourage the full cooperation of the team and a speedy outcome. If it is as bad as I'm thinking I would give them the Timberwolves' draft penalty with attachments. For every year they are found to be guilty of cheating they will lose a first round draft choice. I don't want to destroy the team but they do need to pay. Also, their salary cap will be reduced by the amount that the draft pick would have consumed avoiding their replacing the pick with a high priced free agent. Lastly, the immediate forfeiture of their last game played against the Jets, the only game that could realistically be changed at this point. I also want apologies, written, verbal and I want them often and widespread.
  • What will happen: Nothing else. The league wants this to go away and go away fast. Forget the issues of lost credibility, how about the possible legal ramifications? What if a team was denied a playoff opportunity by the cheating and was not able to host a playoff game. Do you know how much one local playoff game generates in revenue for the community? Neither do I but I'm sure it's a ton. What would stop the lawyers from swooping in with massive class action lawsuits on their behalf? Nothing would, that's what they do. This whole ordeal could bury the Pats and maybe the league as well. Lawyers have that kind of ability when they see a target ripe for litigation. That's why the NFL wants this to go away. Truth be told, maybe it would be best for all of us football fans if it did. That doesn't mean they shouldn't have come down harder though, especially on Belichick.
  • On the bright side: We'll never have to listen to obnoxious Pats fans talking up their squad and getting in our face. If they do, just break out their asterisk. Winning through cheating is hard to defend. Also, I'm going to be curious to see how well the Pats do going forward. Let's see if Tom Brady is that great after all or if he just benefited from "great" play calling. Let's see if Belichick returns to form as a bad football coach (see: Cleveland) just as his highly touted assistants have (see: Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis).
• OK, enough of that, let's wrap this up.

This week the Bills come to town for the Steelers' home opener. The 75th anniversary team will be present, it will be Mike Tomlin's first home game and the new throwback uniforms will be on display. I would not want to be in the Bills' shoes. I'm not so sure that the Steelers will have a game like they did last week but if they clean up their mistakes, it might be just as good if not better. Again, I'm not in the prediction business but once again, I'm starting every Steelers' player (Ben, Willie, Santonio and the D) on my fantasy team, I suggest you do the same. It should be worth it.

Nuf fer now

Tim "I think Belichick is watching me" Campion